Tehran(Bazaar): Islamic Republic will improve its scientific studies and increase its international prestige if it established a research station in Antarctic, Andrew Korybko tells Bazaar in an exclusive interview.
He also says that instead of attempting to do so unilaterally, it might be much easier for Iran to partner with a country that already has such a facility there.
Korybko is an author, senior, journalist and faculty member at the Institute for Strategic and Futuristic Studies at the Russian Friendship University. A Moscow-based American political analyst specializing in the relationship between the US strategy in Afro-Eurasia, China's Belt & Road Initiative, and Hybrid Warfare.
Following is the text of the interview:
Bazaar: According to international law, Iran has the right to "claim sovereignty over part of Antarctica" due to the possibility of access to Antarctica through the Makran Sea and the absence of any territory in the meantime. Now, while dozens of countries around the world now have an active presence in Antarctica due to its rich natural resources, and even Iran's neighbors such as India and Pakistan have established numerous research bases in Antarctica. What is the importance of this region for Iran?
Korybko: Technically, the 1961 Antarctic Treaty froze all countries' territorial claims to that continent. Iran isn't a signatory but the world's major countries are as well as many comparatively minor ones. It's therefore regarded as the international legal basis governing that part of the world.
Furthermore, mining there is indefinitely banned under the Madrid Protocol. Also, India and Pakistan do not have numerous research facilities there, though they do have several. All countries have the right to conduct scientific research there, and this includes Iran.
The importance of this region for Iran is that it could enable the Islamic Republic to improve its scientific studies and increase its international prestige if it established a research station there. Instead of attempting to do so unilaterally, it might be much easier for Iran to partner with a country that already has such a facility there.
China and Russia are the two partners that most immediately come to mind since they're the Great Powers with the closest strategic relations with Iran and might thus be most interested in helping it in this respect.
Bazaar: According to international law, the Antarctic Territory of Iran is a region which is located between 59 degrees to 63 degrees east. The area is currently occupied by Australia. The region in question is a sector with an approximate length of 3,000 km and a width of 405 km and an approximate area of 2,000 to 250,000 square kilometers, which is the territory of the south of Iran. Why Iran has not been active in this field?
Korybko: That's not an accurate interpretation of international law according to the Antarctic Treaty. Rather, it's a claim put forth by those who promote the so-called “frontage” proposal which hasn't entered into practice. Intrepid readers can learn more about this by googling it.
The website Big Think published a piece in 2010 referencing this idea and discussing its relation to Iran titled “How Iran Could Claim a Slice of Antarctica”. So to answer the question, Iran hasn't been active in this way because it has no legal basis to make territorial claims there.
Bazaar: What efforts can Iran make to realize its right in this regard, and what institution and organization should it refer to in this regard?
Korybko: The most effective way to make progress on this scientific front is for Iran to partner with China and/or Russia, the Great Powers with the closest strategic relations with it and which already have research stations there
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