Events:

Tehran International Studies and Research Institute hold seminars and conferences independently or with the cooperation of other research organizations and institutes.

This section will give you a brief introduction to the seminars hold by the institute:

• US strategy in Central Asia, Caspian, and Caucasus (August 2002)

Following the series of meetings held by the Institute to investigate US national security strategies in the region. In this half day meeting in which experts from different organizations took part the following topics were discussed:

• US interests and strategies in the Caspian, Caucasus, and Central Asia region.
• Trends and challenges facing US in the Caspian, Caucasus, and Central Asia region.
• Consequences of realization of US strategies on the national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In this region that can be called Central Eurasia US strategy is executed in line with its goals and interests for controlling energy resources, to keeping rein on the extremist Islamic movements, managing and regulating regional security orders. Meanwhile US competition with Russia, Iran, and China, as active players around this region is a considerable fact. Particularly Russia's presence in the region and its interaction with US opponents such as Iran is an important matter for United States.

Some experts believe that US has decided to settle regional affairs without Iran's presence. Iran reciprocally, regards close relations with Russia as a mean to limit US influence. However, considering the weakness of Russian economical structure and its dependence on the West on one hand and Russia’s instrumental view towards Iran for bargaining with the US, this country cannot be a trustworthy and reliable choice in the future.

It seems that a major part of Iran- US challenge in the region has no connection with conflict of interests and competition based on the zero-sum principle but it mainly stems from ideological differences. This problem has minimized the possibility of cooperation in areas of common concerns such as confrontation with the Talibanist radical Islam, the production and transportation of energy, and the establishment of stability and protection of regional security. This is while Iran has a prominent geopolitical position in the Central Asia, Caspian, and the Caucasus neighborhood and is the only country that can connect this region to the sphere of strategic interests of US and the main energy resource of the world, the Persian Gulf.

Speakers and titles of speeches:

• Iran and US strategy in Central Eurasia
  Mr. Seyyed Rasoul Mousavi, the former Iranian ambassador to Tajikistan, and the chairman of the Strategic Studies Section of the Political and International Studies Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• US- Russia relations and its effects on Iran-Russia cooperation
  Dr. Kabak Khabiri, Uuniversity lecturer and researcher at Presidential Centre for Strategic Studies
• Assessing Iranian policies in Central Asia, Caspian, and Caucasus
  Dr Elaheh Kula’i, university professor and MP, Member of National Security and Foreign Policy commission of the parliament

• US Strategy in the Persian Gulf and its Consequences for the Islamic Republic of Iran National Security (July 2002)

This seminar is part of series of scholarly roundtables which will be held by TISRI in order to study US national security strategy in different parts of the region and its consequences for the Islamic Republic of Iran national security.

In this half day seminar which was hold with participation of university scholars, executives and experts from relevant organizations the following issues were discussed:

• What are US interests and national security strategies in the Persian Gulf and how they could be defined?
• What trends and challenges US is facing for realizing its interests and strategies?
• What are the consequences of US strategies considered in the Persian Gulf for Iran national interest and security?

Regional security orders, development of radical Islamist trends, threats facing Persian Gulf states and US allied governments, ensuring exploitation and export of cheap energy resources from the region to the West are among important issues affecting US strategy in the Persian Gulf.

Attention to relation and influence of each of the above factors on other elements is important in understanding and analysis of US policies. Also the environment in which these strategies were to be implemented, particularly the role of three major regional players; Iran, Iraq, and GCC States (particularly Saudi Arabia), their challenges and interactions with United States should be pointed out too.

Of course the problem of Iraq and deciding about destiny of its regime has an immediate priority for the White House at the moment. Due to its defining affect on power balance in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East, particularly for Iran and since generlising this pattern and style of treatment to other countries is imaginable, the importance of paying attention to Iraq affairs is multiplied.

Being considered as one of the axis of evil besides Iraq as claimed by US; also geographical neighborhood with this country and the role of Iran in Iraq affairs increases the affects of US strategy in Iraq on Iran's national interests and security in comparison to the past and with other regional countries. Understanding and analysis of US strategies, the process of compilation and execution of these strategies and making efforts to influence the decisions in each step is crucial. Therefore strengthening the weekend lobby of Iran in US and reducing the cost of defending Iran for this lobby in the first place and improving regional coalitions and exiting Iran from the acclaimed circle by US should be emphasized.

Speakers and titles of speeches:

• From ILSA II to the axis of evil: the Bush administration policy towards Iran
  Mr.S.Namazi, Planning and policy making expert at Atieh Bahar Company.
• Examining element of Iraq in US foreign policy in the Persian Gulf
  Dr. M.K.Sajjad Pour, Tehran University and Managing Director of Institute of Political and International Studies (IPIS).
• US foreign policy in the Persian Gulf and its consequences for Iran
  Dr. A AbouTalebi, Wiscansin Universityand Middle East researcher.
• Consequences of realization of US strategy in the Persian Gulf for Iran
  Dr.M.Haji Arab. Shahid Beheshti University

• Iran and the future of Palestine- Israel Conflict (June 2002)

In this half day seminar which was hold with the presence of scholars and researchers from different institutes, possible future scenarios, role and status of regional and international players and consequences of different forms of conflict continuity for national security of Islamic Republic of Iran who has been known as an influential and active player in managing the crisis in the region was examined and discussed.

Different scenarios which were considered in this seminar are as follows:

• Definite victory of Israel; this means repressing the Intifathah, increasing Jewish settlements, preventing Palestinian refugees from getting back to their homeland and turning Beitul-Moghaddas to Israel capital. Considering the Intifathah process, regional and international circumstances this scenario does not seem to become true.
• Definite victory of Palestinians; this means return of refugees and establishment of independent Palestinian states in 1967 lands with Eastern Beitul-Moghaddas as the capital.

Considering Israel decisive opposition and policy of repression and lack of regional and international preparation, this scenario does not seem to become true in near future.

• Development of crisis to other areas of the Middle East and direct interference of other regional and international players, and develop of tension to Iran.

Considering US opposition to development of conflict, anti Israeli atmosphere dominating the Middle East and unpredictable consequences of increasing tension in the region, none of the active players is interested in this scenario and they will make their efforts to prevent such circumstances.

• Return to 1980’s and the situation before the start of the peace process
• Return to 1990’s and the start of peace process

Even if they become true these two scenarios there would provide a temporary situation which the Palestine-Israel conflict does not have a finished form.

Meanwhile the developments process shows that the Intifathah factor (stop or continuation) is an important element in any of these scenarios becoming true.

Considering internal constituents in the occupied territories and regional and international circumstances it can be said that the continuation of intifathah as a national uprising together with martyrdom seeking operations is the best choice for Palestinians to achieve their rights. With present coalition of all Palestinian groups, support of parts of the Arab world and international public opinion from the Intifathah, despite all ups and downs the continuation of Intifathah seems more possible.

The affects of this conflict on Islamic Republic of Iran national security must be studied only from security angle and regardless of idealistic views. Therefore considering the balance of power situation in formation of regional security orders and because of its importance in protecting national security of our country special attention should be paid to place of Arab-Israeli players of this conflict.

Name of speakers and title of their speech:

1. Assessing the Intefathah process and favorite choices for Palestinians to gain their rights
   Dr.Rokn Abadi, University lecturer and Deputy Director at Middle East Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. Western players (US and EU) in Israeli- Palestine conflict
   Dr. Ali Ansari. Director of Centre for Iranian Studies at University of Durham and researcher at Middle East program, Royal Institute for International Studies (UK)
3. Islamic Republic of Iran strategy regarding Palestine-Israel conflict
   Dr. Seyed Mohammad Haj Yousefi, Lecturer at Shahid Beheshti University, Middle East analyst.
4. Conflict Players and scenarios: holding a referendum in Palestine as a solution
   Dr Masoud Asadullahi, Lecturer at University of Imam Hossain, Analyst in Arab-Israeli conflict

• Study of US-Iraq confrontations and its consequences for the Islamic Republic of Iran National Security (May 2002)

Considering the seriousness of US-Iraq confrontation, different aspects of this conflict and internal trends effective on the increase of tensions were among the subjects discussed in this seminar. Issues such as status of different spectrums of Iraq oppositions including Shia, Kurd, secular and nationalist groups, their strengths and weaknesses, and the relations between these groups and their interactions with US were addressed by different scholars as it is believed by the majority of specialists that besides other political and military forces inside the Iraqi jurisdiction.

In this regard special attention should be paid to the role, stands and interests of important regional powers including Iran, Turkey, Israel and Arabian countries. It seems that one of the White House problems in planning and executing scenarios for overthrowing the Baath regime is achieving some sort of agreement and common ground between these countries and their contradictory interests with the United States.

US domestic, regional and international challenges in attacking Iraq, and the role of Islamic Republic of Iran in the situation were among other issues discussed in this seminar.

• Iran-Germany; examining point of views November 2001

The purpose of this seminar which was hosting some scholars from University of Potsdam in Germany was exchange of view about current issues and providing an opportunity for University of Potsdam representatives to get more familiar with TISRI and its scholars for developing further cooperation.

Speakers and Title of Speeches:

1. Welcome & introduction
   Mr. Khani Director of TISRI
2. September 2002
   Dr. Tajik President Khatami’s counselor
3. Change of German foreign policy after September 11th
   Prof. Bremann Head of Business, Economy and Social Science Faculty
4. War of civilizations
   Prof. Stolting Sociology lecturer, Faculty of Business, Economy and Social Science
5. Europe policy towards the Middle East
   Dr. Renate Schmidt International Relations and Middle East Expert

• Examining imaginable strategies in Al-Aqhsa Entefathe and possible scenarios resulted from these strategies January 2001

Speakers and titles of speeches:

1. PLO strategy in the context of Intefatheh
   Mr.Safiud-din Hizbullah representative in Tehran
2. Strategy of armed revolution in the context of Intefatheh
   Mr. Abu-Mohammad Mostafa Hamas representative in Tehran
3. Strategy of city war guerilla in the context of Intifathah
   Mr.Abu Jihad Palestine Islamic Jihad representative in Tehran
4. Past strategies and measures taken by Palestinian group against Zionist regime
   Mr. Nourani Middle East expert I.R.I Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Study of reform process in the People’s Republic of China September 2000

Speaker: Dr. Behzad Shahandeh University of Tehran
Department of Law and Political Science

In this seminar Dr. Shahandeh studied the past and present economical, political and social status of People’s Republic of China. Positive and negative aspects of the reform process and its achievements both for people and for the government were discussed in this session.