Obama’s Iran Policy and the Tenth Administration
By Hamid Reza Dehqani Poudeh, head of the Center for Middle East Studies of Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In a few weeks, Ahmadinejad will present his new cabinet to the Iranian parliament and soon the tenth administration will officially start its term. Iran’s foreign diplomacy, its opportunities and challenges in the international scene, and the repercussions of domestic developments on foreign relations are issues calling for further analysis. Hamid Reza Dehqani Poudeh, head of the Center for Middle East Studies of Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commented on future diplomatic developments:
Most likely, in the upcoming months Middle East will be the primary focus of global diplomacy. Naturally, Iran will be at center of this focus. In the United States, since he entered the White House, Barack Obama has set out formulation of a new Iran policy. He seems to be implementing his new policy by sending numerous envoys to the Middle East. With Iran’s outstanding position and the United States’ new policy, Middle East will witness significant developments in near future.
A new approach towards Iran, and a new way of interaction by United States’ new administration is what has been expected for months, especially during the recent weeks, by many political analysts. In his interviews and speeches, Obama has frequently stated that he is waiting for the new Iranian administration. In fact, the expectations have been stirred by United States’ openly expressed inclination for interaction. The Iranian side should give a clear response to Americans after the elections and Ahmadinejad’s new presidential term.
Some believe that future trends will prop up United States’ new approach. In fact, Iran’s post-election circumstances, regional developments, and a complex called Israel should be considered within a single framework, with interconnected solutions.
It is not clear yet how Iran’s post-election developments, and reactions by Israel, Europe, some Arab states and political elements inside the United States will influence Tehran-Washington interaction, America’s approach towards Iran and Obama’s mindset. We are still witnessing incongruities in American officials’ remarks.
The difference seems to have risen from the dynamic nature of diplomatic cases and their impact on U.S. Middle East policy. Each Middle East knot affects U.S. diplomacy in a certain way and that is the cause of incoherent comments by U.S. statesmen. This phenomenon is easily noticeable in United States’ approach towards its other Middle East foci. Take Syria-U.S. relations for example in which Washington has decided to loosen Syria sanctions while it extends restrictions against Syrian or Syria-backed Lebanese figures.
It seems that Americans are trying to save all their cards in playing against Iran and assure major friends (Israel, Europe, and a number of Arab states) that their interests will not be threatened with a new Iran policy. Meanwhile, they try to gain the consent of domestic opponents of engagement with Iran.
Giving Iran a 2-month limit to negotiate on its nuclear program and passing a punitive bill against companies exporting refined oil products to Iran indicate a fuzzy state in the United States’ foreign diplomacy. Iranians can clear up this disorder and tilt the balance in their own favor with a shrewd policy. Nevertheless, it seems that Iran will not change its regional policy towards issues such as Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan and Arab states. In fact, Tehran will most probably continue its current polices more forcefully.
Most likely, in the upcoming months Middle East will be the primary focus of global diplomacy. Naturally, Iran will be at center of this focus. In the United States, since he entered the White House, Barack Obama has set out formulation of a new Iran policy. He seems to be implementing his new policy by sending numerous envoys to the Middle East. With Iran’s outstanding position and the United States’ new policy, Middle East will witness significant developments in near future.
A new approach towards Iran, and a new way of interaction by United States’ new administration is what has been expected for months, especially during the recent weeks, by many political analysts. In his interviews and speeches, Obama has frequently stated that he is waiting for the new Iranian administration. In fact, the expectations have been stirred by United States’ openly expressed inclination for interaction. The Iranian side should give a clear response to Americans after the elections and Ahmadinejad’s new presidential term.
Some believe that future trends will prop up United States’ new approach. In fact, Iran’s post-election circumstances, regional developments, and a complex called Israel should be considered within a single framework, with interconnected solutions.
It is not clear yet how Iran’s post-election developments, and reactions by Israel, Europe, some Arab states and political elements inside the United States will influence Tehran-Washington interaction, America’s approach towards Iran and Obama’s mindset. We are still witnessing incongruities in American officials’ remarks.
The difference seems to have risen from the dynamic nature of diplomatic cases and their impact on U.S. Middle East policy. Each Middle East knot affects U.S. diplomacy in a certain way and that is the cause of incoherent comments by U.S. statesmen. This phenomenon is easily noticeable in United States’ approach towards its other Middle East foci. Take Syria-U.S. relations for example in which Washington has decided to loosen Syria sanctions while it extends restrictions against Syrian or Syria-backed Lebanese figures.
It seems that Americans are trying to save all their cards in playing against Iran and assure major friends (Israel, Europe, and a number of Arab states) that their interests will not be threatened with a new Iran policy. Meanwhile, they try to gain the consent of domestic opponents of engagement with Iran.
Giving Iran a 2-month limit to negotiate on its nuclear program and passing a punitive bill against companies exporting refined oil products to Iran indicate a fuzzy state in the United States’ foreign diplomacy. Iranians can clear up this disorder and tilt the balance in their own favor with a shrewd policy. Nevertheless, it seems that Iran will not change its regional policy towards issues such as Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan and Arab states. In fact, Tehran will most probably continue its current polices more forcefully.