US Lobbies and Strengthening Iran’s National Interests

The Lausanne and Vienna agreements and Security Council Resolution 2231 have passed their times and now the world is waiting for the decision of the US Senate and House of Representatives regarding these matters. From the aspect of international laws, Resolution 2231 has clear instructions for the US Congress and the job is done; but if, for any reason, the US legislative body creates obstacles for the US administration to implement this agreement, it will be considered as a political measure which will isolate the US Congress but the path for Iran will remain open. Based on the agreement, Iran could fulfill its commitments and all countries, including the P5+1, will support Iran and an international consensus will be established for Iran. In other words, Iran will have control over the nuclear issue and other countries will not accept to follow the path of the US Congress because the Security Council resolutions have been adopted not against Iran but rather in support it. Even this case will not fundamentally damage Iran since other countries are ready to participate in Iran’s industrial and economic market. They won’t be concerned about violating the US unilateral sanctions either. In fact, it will be the US banks and industries which will lose this opportunity. In other words, if the US Congress forces the US administration to reject this agreement, they will actually be imposing sanctions on the US and not Iran. If the US Congress succeeds in rejecting this agreement, they will attempt to take further measures against Iran with the help of the US hardliners, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states and perhaps they will draw these measures towards confrontation. Instead of tension and confrontation, Iran prefers a positive and interactive atmosphere to be created for the establishment of peace and cooperation in the Middle East. If that happens, Iran must also do its share and with the help of the US administration, the Democrats and the wise men of this country who support this agreement make efforts to resolve this crisis; meaning that Iran must play an active role in the political scene and with influential lobbies in the US. During the past 37 years, our country has not only not made any attempt in this regard, it has rather viewed Iran’s supporting lobbies in the US as outsiders and has never strengthened them. The fact that the US is not the cradle of civilization or the cradle of freedom and is a global power which acts oppressively in many cases is another subject which does not minimize its impact on the destiny of our country from all aspects.

Of course, all important countries including Iran affect other countries like the US; therefore, we must accept the US with all its positive and negative points as a reality and attempt to use them to strengthen our national interests and security.

Second Step

The US political structure legally allows ideas and thoughts within the framework of a group in the political system of the country to be considered and these ideas have a significant place in the decision-making process. The same point is used to define the status of the lobbies in the US political system; a concept which we have always hated before and after the revolution and that is why we have not paid attention to it. Whether we like it or not, lobbies exist in the US and have impacts on the decisions of the politicians. If we have ignored this fact during the past 37 years, we must attempt to get acquainted with this phenomenon and use it in the present and the future. Nonetheless, we must use these tools. Lobbies in the US are formed in different ways; the correct or wrong public opinion by themselves are strong and effective lobbies for the decision-makers. In the US, the media has the strongest effects on the people and the politicians. Anyone who is able to dominate the media could also have impacts on the public opinion and pursue his own desired policies. A recent example was when Mr. Obama asked social institutions and the people to contact their representatives for their positive votes regarding the nuclear agreement. People in the US believe that the media follows foreign policy issues and they should tell the people what they should vote for, thus, the powerful individuals attempt to impact the media so that they could propogate their policies; of course, it should not be assumed that the media would accept everything that the people of power would dictate. They have independent personalities and dictating them is not easy. The Watergate scandal was disclosed by the media. Many in the US media do not agree with the Israeli actions aimed against the Palestinians and report their atrocities but other sources exert pressures on them.

Third Step

After the public opinion and the media, social institutions could also affect the public opinion and politicians; for example, Americans are sensitive towards the reaction of charities, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and many similar institutions. A major part of the opposition of the Americans against Guantanamo was originated by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Civil institutions which could more easily reflect the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan changed the public opinion against the US military measures against these countries. US universities and research centers are other lobbies of the US and in some areas like health issues and foreign policy are the sources of the people.

Step Four

The most important of these research centers are the ones which former officials and experienced experts and analysts have formed. Foreign Policy Council and Council on Foreign Relations are the most accredited think tanks in foreign policy issues and usually foreign officials, whether presidents and foreign ministers, give speeches in these councils to affect US foreign policy and answer the related questions.

Israel is the only lobby which has used the US Jews to establish research centers and that is why Israel has the most influence on US foreign policy; right now in the political society of the US, those lobbies which are supported by the money of foreign powers could establish an organic relationship with the US decision-making centers. AIPAC is the most significant, strongest and most influential lobby in the US which is composed of the US and Israeli Jews.

Besides Israel and the US Jews, other countries, religious groups and international political and social groups have influence. Israel has used these lobbies since 70 years ago and continues its suppressions against the Palestinians. The only important country which does not have any lobby in the US is Iran which was very influential before the revolution. Today we are not able to pass the Vienna Agreement through the corridors of the US political system. Even the US administration is not able to pass this agreement in the US Congress due to the negative image which has been propagated by the Israeli lobbies in the US.

Nonetheless, today our country must attempt to establish a lobby in the US which could safeguard our national interests. Although, during the past 37 years, the Iranians who reside in the US have initiated this matter, the lack of trust in Iran has prevented their success in these attempts. Unfortunately, Iran has the worst political situation in the US because, due to the absence of a strong lobby in the US Congress and also diplomatic relations with this country, the issue of Iran has been transformed into a card game wherein whoever has a harsher position against Iran could change the political scene in the US to his own interests. This problem has concerned the US administrations and experts, thus, the government has asked all moderate organizations inside the US to create a better atmosphere about Iran. Iran must also use the Iranians and the Americans who support the moderate think tanks to impact the US decision makers.