Can Brazil Mediate Between Iran and the US
Iranian Diplomacy has interviewed Dr. Mansour Moazzami, Brazilian affairs expert, on Brazil’s mediation and Iran’s ties with this South American power:
Does Brazil have the potential to broker a deal between Iran and the United States?
Lula has shown a president who knows the ropes and in international relation the global opportunity well. He has decided to use this chance to further his country’s national interests, so Brazil’s mediation is not unlikely. Brazil pursues a nuclear program too, so it will benefit from closer ties with Iran. Moreover, Iran is one of Brazil’s largest Middle East trade partners, so mediation will help expansion of economic ties and rise of exports to Iran.
We should wait and see what happens. News says that Mr. Ahmadinejad will have a visit to Brazil. He also had a meeting with the Brazilian president on the sidelines of UN General Assembly. Brazil seems interested in Ahmadinejad’s trip. I think all these efforts to boost ties with Iran are because of the realistic approach Brazilian leaders have adopted.
Are Iran-Brazil and Brazil-US ties strong enough to provide an opportunity for mediation?
Iran and Brazil enjoy long relations; that is around 104 years. It is interesting that Iran’s embassy was the first to be opened in Brasilia by the then president of this country. So, the relations have a history and they are extensive. We have warm relations now but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try for better.
There is much potential to upgrade ties with Brazil and recent efforts may give facilitate that. In relations with Iran Brazil should also consider the realities and raise the level of political ties, beside the economic.
Considering Barack Obama’s new Latin American approach, which one will be friendlier, Brazil-US relations under Obama’s rule or Iran-Brazil relations under Ahmadinejad’s?
I believe that Brazil’s policies are closer to Iran’s. Our country talks of social justice and Brazil follows the FOME ZERO plan to obliterate hunger. Both countries want to create equal opportunities for the underprivileged layer of society.
On the other hand, Brazil-US relations are totally strategic. United States is Brazil’s largest trade partner. My personal opinion is that Brazil’s rational, stable foreign policy which is based on serving national interests, will keep both Iran and the United States satisfied.
Meanwhile, Americans are looking for alternative solutions to their problem with Iran and Brazil looks like a favorable one. Iran and Brazil have never had problems. They enjoy close relations and have common policies and interests. Therefore, Obama may break the ice using one of Iran’s economic or political partners.
You may ask why Brazil and why not Venezuela? The truth is, Venezuela’s relations with the United States are not clearly defined or stable, so they cannot play a role. On the other hand, Iran’s constructive presence in Latin America stirs US to control Iran’s maneuvers in this continent, or at least reduce its contradiction with United Sates interests.
Iran’s recent years activities in Latin America have all aimed to serve our national interests, not to harm the United States. Iran has just seized the opportunities.