In a candid interview from New Delhi, Jordan’s envoy Yusuf Abdelghani celebrated the US-Iran ceasefire as a crucial de-escalation step, aligning with his nation’s advocacy for peaceful resolutions in the Middle East. ‘Jordan has always championed dialogue over discord,’ he told reporters on April 8.
He sharply criticized Iran’s targeting of Gulf oil installations and attempts to choke the Strait of Hormuz, labeling them reckless provocations with devastating global consequences. Such interference disrupts not only regional economies but also international shipping lanes vital for world trade.
Turning to bilateral relations, Abdelghani lauded the ‘resilient foundation’ of India-Jordan partnerships, now in its 75th year. With trade targets set at $5 billion, cooperation is imperative amid IMEC ambitions that demand a stable corridor from India to Europe.
Jordan remains steadfastly non-aligned in the US-Iran tensions, refusing military overflights or basing rights. The ambassador hoped this pause in hostilities paves the way for enduring calm.
Disruptions in Hormuz echo prior blockages in the Red Sea, Abdelghani observed, inflicting pain on economies worldwide. He called for unified international resolve to safeguard these passages.
Dismissing oil as the sole flashpoint, the envoy attributed strife to hegemonic aspirations aimed at redrawing maps. Jordan’s Iraq War neutrality, despite sanctions, proved prescient as it averted direct entanglement in the ISIS quagmire that followed.
As a frontline state, Jordan shoulders immense burdens—hosting over 1.5 million Syrian refugees alongside those from Iraq and Palestine. It leads global fights against terror networks, narcotics, and smuggling, with limited foreign advisory support focused on defense, not aggression.
On Iran’s nuclear claims, Abdelghani urged comprehensive denuclearization across the region. Peace, he argued, demands addressing the Palestinian question urgently: Israeli concessions on 1967 lines for Palestinian statehood to quench violence exploited by extremists.
Iran’s attacks on Jordanian civilian sites, despite Amman’s denials of US basing, are unjustifiable, the ambassador stressed, yearning for fraternal relations sans violations of sovereignty.
Bright spots include Queen Rania’s February India trip and PM Modi’s supportive calls post-strikes. With 20,000 Indians in Jordan and key phosphate exports bolstering Indian agriculture, future visits promise enhanced ties.
Abdelghani’s remarks encapsulate Jordan’s vision: stability through restraint, dialogue, and justice as antidotes to perpetual conflict.
