Tehran — In the shadow of war-torn Gaza and escalating regional upheavals, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has moved to reinforce diplomatic ties with Jordan — a quiet but pivotal player in West Asia’s evolving political chessboard. During a meeting with Davoud Kalantari, Iran’s newly appointed top envoy to Amman, Araghchi stressed the “strategic importance” of enhancing Tehran-Amman cooperation at all levels, signaling Tehran’s intent to court Arab neighbors beyond its traditional axis.
The meeting, held in Tehran, focused on a detailed diplomatic roadmap presented by Kalantari, which outlined Iran’s interests in elevating bilateral economic, political, and cultural relations with Jordan. Araghchi, clearly aware of the gravity of timing amid the genocide in Gaza and a realigned Middle East order, urged Iran’s diplomatic corps to engage more assertively with countries like Jordan that have long walked a tightrope between Western alliances and regional pragmatism.
Araghchi highlighted Jordan’s pivotal role in maintaining regional balance and called for stronger embassy engagement, enhanced diplomatic efforts, and closer coordination on critical security issues. A source familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, described Jordan’s geopolitical position, its ties to Palestine, and its stewardship of key holy sites as making it an indispensable player in any credible regional strategy.
While Iran and Jordan maintain formal diplomatic ties, relations have often been cool — strained by ideological divides, Amman’s ties with Israel and the US, and Tehran’s support for anti-Israel resistance factions. Yet the regional paradigm is shifting. The Gaza war has upended old alliances, with many Arab states facing increasing domestic outrage over their perceived silence on Israel’s atrocities. In this volatile context, Iran is now casting itself not just as a military power, but as a rational, diplomatic force willing to stabilize West Asia — on its own terms.
For Jordan, a renewed engagement with Iran is a delicate but potentially necessary gamble. The Hashemite Kingdom is grappling with economic turmoil, refugee pressure, and a widening trust gap between its monarchy and citizens. Public opinion in Jordan has grown increasingly hostile toward the West, especially the US, over its unwavering support for Israel’s war machine. Aligning, even partially, with Iran could give Amman new leverage — both regionally and domestically.
Analysts believe this overture is less about immediate political dividends and more about shaping the post-Gaza regional order. Iran wants to draw moderate Arab countries into its orbit, not necessarily through ideological alignment, but through shared disillusionment with Western hypocrisy, and the urgent need for independent regional frameworks.
Still, Iran’s approach is not without risk. Jordan’s alignment with Saudi Arabia, its delicate peace treaty with Israel, and reliance on Western aid mean that Tehran must play its cards with extreme caution. However, the Islamic Republic’s gamble is grounded in a wider strategy of building regional resilience against Western interventionism — one country at a time.
According to Mehr News Agency, Araghchi called on Kalantari to prioritize relationship-building through active diplomacy and practical cooperation with Jordanian authorities, underlining Tehran’s readiness for “expanded collaboration” in all fields. The report highlighted that Iran sees Jordan not just as a neighbor but as a necessary partner in shaping a post-American, post-Israeli region in which regional states define their futures free from foreign dictates.
