The Obama’s administration has been beaming encouraging signals toward Tehran this week.
However, one would safely expect their studies and planning stages on how to engage Iran take a little bit longer just to see through the Iranian presidential-election first.
It all started in an interview with the Al-Arabia TV Network in which president Obama asked Iran to unclench its fist in order to make it possible to shake hands. He wants Iran to show its interest in a meaningful way. However, the meaningful-way is open to the interpretation, it encompasses a wide range of activities on the Iran's part. For instance, the Iran's nuclear ambition and its stand on the Arab-Israeli predicaments are the prominent ones.
A day prior to the Mr. Obama's interview, Ms. Susan Rice, the new US’ delegate to the United Nation, has been quoted as saying that the US will enter a ‘vigorous diplomacy’ with Iran. Hillary Clinton, the new Secretary of States, was playing the same tune since she has been appointed to her position.
Nonetheless, the Obama’s stand against Iran was clear through out the US election-campaign - he had explicitly expressed his willingness to talk to Tehran directly and without any preconditions. That was a step in the right direction; however, it is important not to send a wrong message to Tehran. Tehran should not be under such perceived illusion that the Tehran-Washington game is over in its favour. Washington and Tehran should both be pragmatic and realistic – I am confident that they are – they both are aware of their own national interests and their security’s concerns.
Nevertheless, the Obama’s administration is just two-weeks old whereas the Ahmadi Nejad’s government has less than 3 months in office and it is facing an election. For Mr. Obama, it would be unwise to approach a government which may well be out of office soon. He and his advisers can surely do more studies and planning to be well prepared just in time to then engage a new and more stable administration in Tehran.
No comments:
Post a Comment