No Benefits for Iran in Release of the American Hikers
Mostafa Kawakebian, member of the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.
When it comes to international affairs and foreign policies, national interests may necessitate compromising the domestic laws and regulations. The release of two American prisoners Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer could be defined within this context, but only if it could advance the rights of the Iranian citizens.
Tehran could have demanded that Washington release some of the Iranian prisoners imprisoned in the US to make its own initiative more meaningful. The unilateral release does not benefit Iran at all and neither does the 500 thousand dollar bail, a mere formality which did not return Sarah Shourd to Iran, and can’t bring back Josh Fattal or Shane Bauer either. The release did not sound elaborate in other dimensions: Iran could have asked for the US to tone down its propaganda war, not to spice it up, as we observed in Obama's message or portrayal of Iran's humane decision in the ensuing press conferences. The two US prisoners made claims of tortures happening in the Iranian prisons and slandered our country’s judiciary.
Did the release improve our international relations? It’s hard to claim so. After all, Washington did not return Iran's favor. The mediating countries (Oman, Iraq and Venezuela) took advantage of the opportunity –as usual- to get closer to the United States. Although their requests or negotiations were not the ultimate cause, they seek for benefits by claiming so. In this regard, Iran seems to have received the shorter end of the stick.