FP - Mohammed Javad Zarif, former Iranian Foreign Minister - The Time for a Paradigm Shift Is Now

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The Time for a Paradigm Shift Is Now

Former Iranian foreign minister outlines path for diplomacy.

By Mohammad Javad Zarif, an associate professor of global studies at the University of Tehran and the founder and president of Possibilities Architects: Inspiring Ascending Beyond, a nongovernmental Iranian think tank.

An Iranian crosses a street next to a billboard bearing the portrait of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with a quote that reads in Persian "Sing Oh Iran" at the Enqelab Square in Tehran.

An Iranian crosses a street next to a billboard bearing the portrait of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with a quote that reads "Sing 'Oh Iran'" at Enqelab Square in Tehran on July 9. AFP via Getty Images

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August 15, 2025, 9:48 AM

West Asia stands at a perilous inflection point. The horrors unfolding in Gaza, the recent aggression directed at Iran but repelled by the Iranian people and its armed forces, and the continued destabilization of Syria illustrate in stark terms that for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his global enablers, the only so-called existential threat is actually peace and quiet. This pairing for Israel of internal apartheid and perpetual regional conflict threatens the very foundations of the regional and global orders. While strong defense is necessary, an enduring solution demands a bold diplomatic initiative, a historic shift for Iran and the region from a deeply ingrained threat paradigm to an empowering possibilities paradigm, including: expansion of ties with neighbors and global south countries, a new regional partnership among Muslim West Asia, and a renewed dialogue with Europe and the United States.

For too long now, nations in the region have been trapped in cycles of conflict and missed opportunities. Forging a different future requires vision, courage, and a conscious decision to break free from historical determinism. For Iran, this shift begins domestically and radiates outward into its neighborhood. Having been able to demonstrate that it is not easy prey and can hold its own against two nuclear-armed aggressors, Iran has the capacity to make this critical transition from an approach centered on confronting perpetual threats to one focused on exploiting opportunities. It is not only feasible but profoundly in the interest of Iran, the region, and the global community. Achieving it necessitates unwavering domestic resolve and external noninterference; driven not necessarily by morality or international law, but simply by self-interest.