Who Needs Enemies?
The way Iran has handled post-election developments have reduced the chances of a compromise with West. By Dr. Ali Bigdeli
Post-election developments have posed a strong challenge to Iran. Some political observers believe that if not bridged, the nation-state gap will severely undermine Iran’s political, economic and international status. Dr. Ali Bigdeli, professor of Shahid Beheshti University and foreign affairs expert has analyzed the prospect of post-election developments:
More than domestic affairs, Iran’s international ties have been affected by post-election developments. However, the situation was ripe for such crisis. Iran was already suffering an inefficient foreign diplomacy which snubbed international norms. The course of events after the election have just made the problem worse and debilitated our foreign diplomacy more than ever.
On the other hand, episodes such as mass trials of protestors were totally wrong and harmful to our foreign diplomacy. Iranian statesmen may have wanted to flex their muscles, but that will definitely have a reverse impact on economic and international ties, manifested in the way foreign countries receive our officials. Several international conferences have been held in neighboring countries to which Iran was not invited and that trend will definitely continue. Many even believe that the United States may not issue a visa for Ahmadinejad to attend the United Nation’s General Assembly. That would definitely be a national humiliation.
What happened during the last two months could be simply forgiven with political wit and Islamic condonation. Nonetheless, crackdown turned more forceful and hurt our national interests. Politicians should always wield flexibility. With the new international situation for Iran and the mistrust between citizens and the establishment, the administration should move towards restoring ties in both domestic and international areas.
International sanctions amid domestic turmoil
West is trying to tell the world that it had predicted Iran’s current situation. With Iranians’ protest and post-election events it has found an opportunity to emphasize the accuracy of the prediction. Nowadays, West is trying to say that Iran is a country defying international laws and it is not worth negotiations.
Unfortunately, we have laid the groundwork for their hostility. At present, West is in no hurry to sit at the table of talks with Iran and hear what it has heard many times before. With deep regret, the tide is in West’s favor and with further sanctions, everything will be against us. India is the first country which has stopped selling gasoline to us and soon we will see Persian Gulf states and other countries halting gasoline export. With its own hands, Iran has turned the international community against itself and looks like it does not want to stop the trend.
More than domestic affairs, Iran’s international ties have been affected by post-election developments. However, the situation was ripe for such crisis. Iran was already suffering an inefficient foreign diplomacy which snubbed international norms. The course of events after the election have just made the problem worse and debilitated our foreign diplomacy more than ever.
On the other hand, episodes such as mass trials of protestors were totally wrong and harmful to our foreign diplomacy. Iranian statesmen may have wanted to flex their muscles, but that will definitely have a reverse impact on economic and international ties, manifested in the way foreign countries receive our officials. Several international conferences have been held in neighboring countries to which Iran was not invited and that trend will definitely continue. Many even believe that the United States may not issue a visa for Ahmadinejad to attend the United Nation’s General Assembly. That would definitely be a national humiliation.
What happened during the last two months could be simply forgiven with political wit and Islamic condonation. Nonetheless, crackdown turned more forceful and hurt our national interests. Politicians should always wield flexibility. With the new international situation for Iran and the mistrust between citizens and the establishment, the administration should move towards restoring ties in both domestic and international areas.
International sanctions amid domestic turmoil
West is trying to tell the world that it had predicted Iran’s current situation. With Iranians’ protest and post-election events it has found an opportunity to emphasize the accuracy of the prediction. Nowadays, West is trying to say that Iran is a country defying international laws and it is not worth negotiations.
Unfortunately, we have laid the groundwork for their hostility. At present, West is in no hurry to sit at the table of talks with Iran and hear what it has heard many times before. With deep regret, the tide is in West’s favor and with further sanctions, everything will be against us. India is the first country which has stopped selling gasoline to us and soon we will see Persian Gulf states and other countries halting gasoline export. With its own hands, Iran has turned the international community against itself and looks like it does not want to stop the trend.