Congratulation letter: Foundation of changes in future US-Iran relations

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, has congratulated Barack Obama’s election as US president in a letter. Such a move has not been done by any Iranian official in the post-Islamic revolution era. Accordingly, Obama has stated that he would survey the Iranian president’s letter and respond to it.

Here is a commentary by Davood Hermidas Bavand, a university lecturer and expert on US and international affairs, on the issue.

 

 

Mr.Ahmadinejad’ s letter to Barack Obama is in two ways different from his previous letters to other world leaders. First: Obama had declared in his campaign that he would unconditionally negotiate with Iran, Cuba and other so called hostile countries. This statement was later modified and it was said that the negotiations would at first be at experts’ level and if successful, it will be continued at higher levels. Second: By his "Change" slogan on presidential campaign, Obama has created new environments on US domestic policies and foreign policy as well. Regarding Obama’s statements, the new environment and the will to solve Bush-era problems, it seems that Ahmadinejad’ s congratulation letter to Obama will be looked upon as Iran’s will to attending constructive negotiations.

It has been said that Obama would answer this letter. Sooner or later.

From the American side, the will to negotiate with Iran has been stated. At the same time, the Iranian president’s letter is somehow Iran’s declaration of willingness for negotiation.

Any change in the two countries relations depends on Obama’s answer to Ahmadinejad’s letter. In such an answer, the new US president will probably make his points clear on suspended issues between US and Iran. In case of Iran’s positive reaction to Obama’s comments, there will be much room for tasks like opening US interest section in Iran.

In Obama’s letter, there would undoubtedly be references to Iran’s nuclear case, and the problems in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama would probably propose positive steps to take in this regard. In case of Iran’s balanced response to Obama’s suggestions, there would be a new environment in the two countries relations.