NAM leaders support Iran

Stephan Lendman (US commentator): After six historic days, over 100 participating nations expressed support for common interests as well as host country Iran. The New York Times said NAM "handed….Iran a diplomatic victory." The Christian Science Monitor suggested efforts to isolate Iran failed. The Russian International News Agency (RIA Novosti) said participants supported Iran and its peaceful nuclear program. The Tehran Times said "NAM summit set back US-Israeli campaign to isolate Iran." Press TV called the summit the "most important" political event in the Islamic Republic's history.

Late Friday, the largest, most impressive NAM summit in decades ended. Iran gained prestige. It emerged standing tall. America, Israel, and rogue allies got long overdue black eyes.

President Mohammed Morsi was Egypt's first leader to visit Iran since its 1979 revolution. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also came for the first time.

They combined support with criticism. Morsi shamelessly endorsed imperial efforts to topple Assad. Ban regurgitated Israeli lies about Iran allegedly wanting the Jewish state destroyed and denying the holocaust. These canards long ago wore thin.

Ban also called for diplomatically resolving Western/Iranian differences. He said it's "regrettable that Iran has yet to reach agreement with the IAEA on a plan to resolve all outstanding issues." He urged both sides to pursue "a reciprocal, step-by-step process."

Washington and Netanyahu hardliners were duly embarrassed. The summit's success ran counter to their belligerent, isolationist, imperial policies.

According to Britain's International Institute for Strategic Studies research analyst/project coordinator Dina Esfandiary, the event showed Iran "still has friends and trade partners despite international efforts to isolate it."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's closing speech said:

NAM summit achievements were "unprecedented." "Bright, glorious and effective" prospects lie ahead.

"The important political message by NAM to the international community is the message of friendship and peace and its readiness to tackle global challenges."

"All the members underlined the necessity for fundamental transformation in the global management and interactions. All the members emphasized public participation in the management (of the world) based on justice and amity as the foundation of sustainable peace."

"All the members underlined the (need for the) promotion of the status of the movement and the preparation of the grounds for the establishment of the required structures for the mutual reinforcement of the members’ capabilities and joint involvement in the global interactions and equations."

Ahmadinejad also stressed the importance of avoiding conflict. He highlighted the need for logic and dialogue in dealing with major global challenges.

He urged participants to establish a temporary secretariat and organize NAM's structure.

Member states warned about plots to sow discord. They also expressed concern about certain nations seeking world dominance at the expense of others.

The final communique contained around 700 clauses. Topics addressed included:

opposition to the misuse of human rights;

global nuclear disarmament; 

opposition to racism and Islamophobia;

support for Iran's peaceful nuclear program;

opposition to US sanctions;

opposition to outside interference in Syria's internal affairs;

support for national sovereignty; and

solidarity with and support for Palestinian rights.

Iran concluded a successful NAM summit. World support was expressed. Tehran's prestige was enhanced. Attacking the Islamic Republic now perhaps would engender world wrath.