Setting Two Americans Free: No Improvement in the US-Iran relations

18 September 2011 | 16:18 Code : 16329 America
Interview with Dr. Ali Khorram, Iran’s former representative in the UN and an analyst of international issues.
Setting Two Americans Free: No Improvement in the US-Iran relations
IRD: On 8 Mordad, 1388 (30 July, 2009), three Americans were arrested in the Iran-Iraq border area-- no one imagined the event would be one of the most important topics in Iran-US relations until two years later. Yesterday, Mr. Ahmadinejad announced that they would be set free, while it was denied by the Judiciary. The issue is reviewed by Dr. Ali Khorram:

 

IRD: It is for more than two years that the arrest of three Americans is a hot topic for the media and in US-Iran relations. Is the case political?

 

AK: I do not have any expertise on the arrest issue and the allegations, and the Intelligence Service and the Judiciary should answer that, but setting them free is different: the court passed an 8-year sentence for trespassing and spying. It seems that setting them free is not wise, as the sentence is a heavy one.  

 

IRD: You say that they should not be set free?

 

AK:  I say that while the 8-year sentence was passed, setting them free is not appropriate, since world public opinion may question why they are being set free when they are guilty. Therefore, it should be dealt with more carefully.

 

IRD: Setting other national citizens free is a common practice, used by countries to show their goodwill. Can the issue be interpreted in this regard?

 

AK: Certainly Mr. Ahmadinejad intended this for its political influence on the verge of his visit to New York, but the issue is that if their presented evidence was undeniable, the sentence had to be lighter. If the sentence was passed with strong expertise, the action can show goodwill; but if it is not accepted in international common opinion that they were guilty, the action will not be effective.

 

IRD: How can it affect the US-Iran relations?

 

AK: Certainly it will, but not that seriously. US-Iran relations are so problematic that this issue cannot affect them much.

 

 IRD: The foreign media has introduced the prisoners as Iran’s hostages, and political pawns. Is this true?

 

 AK:  It depends on the above argument and how Iran acts regarding the allegations; that is to say that if it is considered why they were sentenced and what the evidence was.

 

IRD:  How can it affect Ahmadinejad’s visit to New York?

 

 AK: If the Americans consider the hikers’ arrest as a political measure, the reaction will be violent, while the news about setting them free may lighten the atmosphere.

 

IRD: Due to the denial of the Judiciary, how can the discrepancies between Iran and the US be serious?

 

 AK: They will certainly take it into consideration that it might be because of Iran’s hostility or some judicial evidence and documents. Finally, they will make their own decision based on their analysis.