Nuclear Talks and Iran’s Package
West has no problems if Iran sets forth proposals on global issues in its package, but for them, the priority is Iran’s nuclear program. Interview with Ali Khorram, international affairs analyst
Is Iran’s preparation of a new package a sign of its interest to continue nuclear negotiations with West?
Yes. Iran is definitely interested in carrying on the talks, whether it regards it as a strategy or tactic. At any rate, Iran regards the negotiations positively and knows no loss will inflict it if it continues the talks. Negotiations agenda is one thing and desired objectives are something else. Iran’s goals may by different from Five plus One but both sides agree on the principle of negotiations.
Five Plus One has given Iran a two-month opportunity for start of the negotiations. How do you see this deadline and how is it going to affect Iran’s plan to offer a new package?
According to Mr. Mottaki, Iran has not yet received a direct message from G8 or Five Plus One on the deadline. It seems that Iran is looking forward to an official letter from West on their new decision, or it may be waiting for a visit by Solana to receive the message.
However, a two-month deadline by West means that Iran should not postpone the negotiations after it has known its new administration. Tehran should not kill the time and start the talks. In fact, West is trying to reach a conclusion to see if it should impose further sanctions against Tehran.
Will the course of events change if Tehran presents its new package in this two-month span?
It will be effective undoubtedly but the impact depends on the content.
What is your conjecture? Will the package contain outlines on regional and global issues, including Iran’s nuclear program?
Iran is in fact trying to shift the negotiations’ agenda from nuclear issues to global issues. Its previous package also contained headlines which were not West’s priority. West wants to solve Iran’s nuclear program at first, and then get to regional and international issues.
So there is this disagreement between Iran and West on their packages. West has no problems with Iran addressing global issues in its package, but gives the priority to the nuclear program.
Is Iran’s addressing of global issues in its package rooted in Ahmadinejad’s talks of managing global affairs?
That is a possibility. Iran may be trying to imply that global matters and its nuclear program are at the same level of importance. However, managing the world needs several tools. Even the United States can not manage talk of managing global affairs. Of course it has made such attempts but without others’ help, single-handed management of global affairs is impossible.
There are some basic requirements we should possess if we want to administer global affairs. First and foremost we must have the potential to play a global role. If not, then we are only a regional power, and if even that is not true, then we are just an ordinary country. Iran’s attitude on running global affairs will affect the content of its package.
Yes. Iran is definitely interested in carrying on the talks, whether it regards it as a strategy or tactic. At any rate, Iran regards the negotiations positively and knows no loss will inflict it if it continues the talks. Negotiations agenda is one thing and desired objectives are something else. Iran’s goals may by different from Five plus One but both sides agree on the principle of negotiations.
Five Plus One has given Iran a two-month opportunity for start of the negotiations. How do you see this deadline and how is it going to affect Iran’s plan to offer a new package?
According to Mr. Mottaki, Iran has not yet received a direct message from G8 or Five Plus One on the deadline. It seems that Iran is looking forward to an official letter from West on their new decision, or it may be waiting for a visit by Solana to receive the message.
However, a two-month deadline by West means that Iran should not postpone the negotiations after it has known its new administration. Tehran should not kill the time and start the talks. In fact, West is trying to reach a conclusion to see if it should impose further sanctions against Tehran.
Will the course of events change if Tehran presents its new package in this two-month span?
It will be effective undoubtedly but the impact depends on the content.
What is your conjecture? Will the package contain outlines on regional and global issues, including Iran’s nuclear program?
Iran is in fact trying to shift the negotiations’ agenda from nuclear issues to global issues. Its previous package also contained headlines which were not West’s priority. West wants to solve Iran’s nuclear program at first, and then get to regional and international issues.
So there is this disagreement between Iran and West on their packages. West has no problems with Iran addressing global issues in its package, but gives the priority to the nuclear program.
Is Iran’s addressing of global issues in its package rooted in Ahmadinejad’s talks of managing global affairs?
That is a possibility. Iran may be trying to imply that global matters and its nuclear program are at the same level of importance. However, managing the world needs several tools. Even the United States can not manage talk of managing global affairs. Of course it has made such attempts but without others’ help, single-handed management of global affairs is impossible.
There are some basic requirements we should possess if we want to administer global affairs. First and foremost we must have the potential to play a global role. If not, then we are only a regional power, and if even that is not true, then we are just an ordinary country. Iran’s attitude on running global affairs will affect the content of its package.