Encouraging Obama to Interact with Tehran

Since Mr. Rohani’s election victory, we have seen different approaches from the West. What is your assessment of the reactions to Mr. Rohani’s election as Iran’s president?

In general, Dr. Hassan Rohani’s victory in the presidential election has led to positive yet cautious reactions in the West. The reason is that Mr. Rohani was the chief negotiator in Iran’s nuclear negotiations during Mr. Khatami’s presidency and although the West considers him a serious personality with regard to Iran’s positions on the nuclear issue, they evaluate him as an individual with a logical, diplomatic, and wise approach, contrary to the method used in Iran’s foreign policy during the past eight years. Therefore, following the June election, a wave of optimism regarding the resolution of basic economic, political, social, and cultural issues was created inside the country. In international relations, this incident has also led to the formation of a positive approach, although a cautious one, with regard to Iran’s developments. This approach can be seen in both Europe and the US.

But this reality must not be forgotten that there are movements which do not want Iran-US relations to move towards a constructive path and a diplomatic solution to the problems. These groups continue to act as obstacles with their negative approach; in particular, the Israeli lobby, which is seriously active and is influential in all political circles in the US, especially in Congress.

Under conditions when, during the past few years, Iran’s positions  and status have always been very weak in the US Congress and any proposal or bill against the Islamic Republic of Iran was adopted with consensus and an absolute majority, today we witness that 118 US representatives, Democrat and Republican, have written a letter to Obama. Considering the fact that the Israeli lobbies are very active in the government and in non-governmental institutions in the US, this incident is very significant, particularly at a time when Netanyahu has recently stated that the world must not trust Mr. Rohani and insisted that the military option to fight against Iran’s nuclear program is still on the table. This approach indicates that, considering the campaign positions of Mr. Rohani, his election by the people of Iran was very intelligent and his victory can be considered as a positive step for the start of Iran-US negotiations and the resolution of bilateral issues and regional and international problems.

Previously and contrary to this letter, 43 US representatives had warned White House officials that they should not reduce sanction-based pressures with the excuse of Rohani’s election and that they should not be deceived by Rohani. Why is this latest letter significant?

Firstly, this letter is significant because such a letter is published in an atmosphere where hatred towards the Islamic Republic is rapidly growing. I mean that in the US, especially in the US Congress, an atmosphere had been created through the propagation of radical groups and Israeli lobbies in which there was practically no possibility for disclosure of the realities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Under such conditions, when a letter is signed by 118 US representatives demanding interaction with Iran, this shows that they are proposing a realistic approach with regard to the new circumstances that are created in Iran. Proposing such an approach is by itself very significant. But whether these 118 representatives would be able to create any development in Iran-US relations needs time. The important point is that this positive first step has been taken but whether this letter can impact the US’ practical policies is not clear. But what is obvious is that this approach will encourage the Obama administration to make efforts to interact with Iran, for he will be assured that the US Congress will support policies which are related to creating diplomatic channels and negotiations.

The impact of the demands of this letter and the establishment of relations between Iran and the US depend on the future approaches of both parties and whether they would be able to negotiate and prepare the ground for such a development. But my assessment is that this is a positive measure which can impact the dominant atmosphere over Iran-US relations.

Will this letter impact future Iran-P5+1 negotiations?

We must take note that neither Iran, nor the US, nor the P5+1 countries has any choice but to pursue diplomatic channels. This is what Dr. Rohani has also expressed in his campaign slogans and is committed to. He has stated that through the transparent positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran, he will attempt to prepare the ground for the improvement of Iran’s international relations. I believe that this letter can create appropriate grounds for this approach.

It has been written in this letter that “We must be careful not to eliminate the chance for progress through a diplomatic approach by taking provocative measures which would weaken Iran’s president-elect in facing his domestic rivals.” What do ‘provocative measures’ mean here? Can it be hoped that new sanctions against Iran would not be adopted in the Congress?

As I mentioned earlier, there have always been serious and stubborn opponents against the establishment of logical and wise relations between Iran and the US both in Iran and in the US. It has always been seen that whenever, in certain historical junctures, both sides have intended to take serious steps forward to interact with each other, the radical groups have blocked this path with their measures. There are still certain individuals and groups who intend to destroy any positive measure with their unrealistic assessments.

It seems that such a political atmosphere and its interpretation will lead to more pressuring sanctions not being adopted in the Congress in the near future. Pursuance of such an approach by the US can prepare the ground for negotiation. In my opinion, these circumstances can move towards a direction where the unilateral sanctions which have been imposed by the US against Iran would be reduced on a path based on constructive negotiation. But all of these conditions depend on the point that both parties enter political and diplomatic negotiations. Hence, these measures would only create conditions where a positive atmosphere would dominate relations so that the ground would be prepared for the resolution of the problems.