WANA (Sep 17) – Mohammad Javad Larijani, a prominent figure in  Iran’s politics and international relations, in his essay “Foreign Policy at a Different Level”, offers a critical assessment of the current foreign policy orientation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He argues that Iran’s diplomacy still moves within a JCPOA-based framework, which relies on three central pillars: a sense of desperation, the possibility of agreement with the United States, and trust in American commitments. In his view, these pillars are neither realistic nor beneficial, and their continuation will damage Iran’s national interests.

Critique of the JCPOA Doctrine

1. Rejecting the “desperation” narrative

Larijani challenges the idea that Iran is paralyzed by sanctions. He points to the country’s scientific, defense, industrial, and infrastructural achievements as proof that Iran remains capable and resilient. According to him, economic difficulties are rooted primarily in chronic mismanagement rather than sanctions. Even the lifting of sanctions, he argues, would not resolve structural weaknesses but would merely facilitate imports.

2. The illusion of an honorable agreement with the U.S.

For Larijani, Washington’s demands—dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, limiting its defensive capabilities, curtailing regional influence, and halting support for resistance movements—amount to outright surrender. Thus, the notion of a dignified, win–win agreement with the U.S. is, in his words, nothing more than wishful thinking.

3. The impossibility of trusting the U.S.

He further stresses that the U.S. record of violating its obligations, from withdrawing unilaterally from the JCPOA to betraying even its closest allies, proves that trust in Washington or Europe is naïve. Any foreign policy built on such trust, he contends, is doomed to failure.

An Iranian newspaper with a cover photo of U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is seen in Tehran, Iran, May 11, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

From JCPOA to the “Doctrine of Resistance”

On this basis, Larijani concludes that the JCPOA doctrine is fundamentally flawed and unsuitable for Iran’s current circumstances. He proposes instead what he terms the “Doctrine of Resistance.” Its main principles are:

• Reliance on national capacities and “resistance management” in three key sectors of the economy: oil, agriculture, and monetary policy.
• Rejection of the illusion of an honorable deal with the U.S., as independence is non-negotiable.
• Designing any possible agreements with the West step by step, with reciprocal confidence-building rather than unilateral concessions.
• Viewing external pressure as an opportunity for what he calls an “explosion of opportunities,” enabling Iran to enhance its capabilities.
• Grounding foreign policy in religious values and trust in divine assistance as the ultimate source of national strength.

People walk past a billboard with a picture of nuclear scientists killed in Israeli strikes and Iranian centrifuges, on a street in Tehran, Iran, August 29, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Practical Steps within the Doctrine of Resistance

Building on these principles, Larijani proposes several immediate measures:

1. Suspending cooperation with the IAEA except for fuel supply to the Bushehr plant, and temporarily halting obligations under the NPT until a new framework is defined. This, he argues, would shift Iran from a defensive to a proactive negotiating position.

2. Redefining the legitimacy of negotiations so that Iran is accountable only to international organizations such as the UN, not to the demands of the U.S. or Europe.

3. Acknowledging the death of the JCPOA. With the U.S. withdrawal, the deal no longer exists; therefore, Europe has no legal grounds to activate the “snapback” mechanism. Attempts to preserve the JCPOA, he warns, risk sacrificing national interests for political vanity.

4. Comprehensive revision of nuclear policy under the supervision of the Supreme National Security Council, while legally pursuing compensation for damages caused by attacks on nuclear facilities.

5. Strengthening the axis of resistance as a cornerstone of Iran’s regional policy, both as a deterrent to war and as a factor shifting the balance of power in Iran’s favor.

6. Expanding Iran’s diplomatic activity in international forums, particularly on issues such as state-sponsored terrorism, the assassination of scientists, human rights violations in the West, and Western monopolies over emerging sciences such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

Pezeshkian’s Attendance at China’s Military Parade. Social Media / WANA News Agency

In conclusion, Larijani warns that persisting with the JCPOA-centered approach will impose heavy costs and risks on Iran. The only realistic path forward, he argues, is adopting a Doctrine of Resistance—a strategy rooted in national capacity, political independence, rejection of Western coercion, and support for regional resistance movements. He emphasizes that the Supreme National Security Council must urgently initiate this shift in foreign policy paradigm, as any delay could lead to irreparable harm to Iran’s national interests.