By Parviz Esmaili, Former Iranian ambassador to Croatia
TEHRAN - In light of the recent tragic helicopter crash and the martyrdom of the esteemed President, Foreign Minister, and other servants of our country, it is with a heavy heart that I write. May their souls rest in divine mercy, and may God grant patience and strength to the grieving families and the noble nation of Iran.
I feel compelled to honor the memory of my dear brother, martyr Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian, with whom I had a twenty-year friendship and professional collaboration. His dedication to defending the oppressed people of Palestine and his role as the first martyr Foreign Minister in the Islamic Republic of Iran are testament to his exceptional qualities.
I had the opportunity to build a connection with Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian through various media communications and his active participation in regional events, particularly in advocating for the oppressed people of Palestine. Additionally, I had the privilege of getting to know him better during our embassy tenure in Bahrain, where I was invited twice to attend regional conferences and media events. It was during these interactions that I came to appreciate his sincere, pure, and honest demeanor. Our bond deepened significantly during my visits to his home, thanks in large part to Dr. Amir Abdollahian's warmth and hospitality. Even if there were lapses in communication on my end, he always made an effort to reconnect and demonstrate his affectionate nature.
In my view, personal and ethical characteristics are just as crucial as professional expertise and managerial principles when it comes to any responsibility. This is because specialized approaches, political views, and management policies can be relative and subjective, whereas human dignity and ethical principles are enduring and more valuable for evaluating individuals. Over the course of 20 years, I have come to know Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian as a person of noble and ethical character, who is humble, kind, sociable, and principled. He was always willing to help others, regardless of their ideological preferences. In addition to fulfilling his assigned duties, he consistently demonstrated sincerity, modesty, honesty, diligence, and unwavering perseverance.
Dr. Amir Abdollahian was a humble and respected collaborator for the diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in various periods. He possessed a deep understanding of Iran's foreign policy structure, key players, and influential factors, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the country's diplomatic organization. His experience in diplomacy spanned international, regional, and domestic dimensions. Notably, he navigated significant challenges such as Trump's withdrawal from the JCPOA, the European Union's practical compliance, regional developments, the global impact of COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, and other events that have affected Iran's foreign relations.
In these challenging times, Dr. Amir Abdollahian made remarkable efforts to not only reinitiate discussions with the JCPOA members but also to establish a more balanced approach by strengthening ties with neighboring nations and enhancing Iran's presence in regional and international organizations. This included expediting Iran's official membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Eurasia, and BRICS, as well as fostering bilateral relations with a diverse array of countries. This equilibrium catalyzes improvement in the country's overall economic situation and encourages influential nations to help revive the nuclear agreement.
Before my assignment to Croatia in 2019 for diplomatic duties, I had the privilege of being invited as a guest to his office for lunch. At that time, I was serving as an assistant to the head and director-general of international affairs at the parliament. During our meeting, he generously shared his valuable diplomatic experiences with me and also provided me with a folder containing essential information and letters from prominent figures such as the Speaker of Parliament and the chairman of the National Security Commission in Croatia. These documents, prepared by his counterparts in Croatia, detailed important national occasions of their country. This assistance proved to be incredibly beneficial for me and showcased his professional expertise and forward-thinking approach in the field of diplomacy.
Dr. Amir Abdollahian had close and respectful relationships with his colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He held former ministers and veteran diplomats in high regard, actively seeking their input and bringing them together. He extended the same level of care and support to all his colleagues at the Ministry, striving to improve their professional and personal well-being within his means. He was a reliable source of support for his colleagues, sharing in their joys and sorrows. Despite his ministerial position, he remained approachable and attentive to their needs. Dr. Abdollahian also maintained strong connections with our country's ambassadors, often inviting them to join him on trips to discuss foreign policy, regional relations, and bilateral talks when visiting their respective regions.
I reached out to Dr. Amir Abdollahian several times regarding bilateral issues with Croatia and matters related to the Balkans and the European Union. I remember one night when an important issue arose at 11:30 Tehran time, which the relevant department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had postponed until the next day. Despite being tired, Dr. Amir Abdollahian listened kindly and issued necessary orders regarding the matter. The following night, even while he was abroad, he followed up on the result.
While the consular structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs generally deals with consular issues or legal matters of Iranians abroad, Dr. Amir Abdollahian had a special interest in this area. When an unjust problem arose for one of our compatriots at Tehran airport, I had to contact him. Despite heavy schedule constraints, he personally reached out, even outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and resolved the issue.
Another important aspect of proactive foreign policy is public diplomacy and communication with global public opinion. Dr. Amir Abdollahian's special attention to interacting with the media inside the country as well as engaging with influential international media was unprecedented and demonstrated his understanding of public opinion. I requested an exclusive interview with him for the most reputable newspaper in the Balkans and Croatia (Vecernji List), which he immediately and graciously accepted. This interview was conducted by sending a reporter to Tehran and was featured on the front page of the newspaper, receiving extensive coverage in international media.
As a colleague and friend, I bear witness before the people and in the presence of Almighty God that "O Allah, we know nothing about him except good..." and that martyr Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian did everything within his power for Iran and its people and did not hold back. I hum [this poem] with a heavy heart:
Upon seeing you, the crowd hushed, then whispered to the wind-swift horse,
'Where does the breeze carry the crimson rose petal, where does it fall?'
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