United States sends the ball in Iran’s court

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated on Saturday that her country hasn’t officially offered Iran for opening an interest section in Tehran; and they do not know what Iran’s response would be. Meanwhile she wished that Iran would accept this proposal. Washington Times has also reported about establishment of a new department in U.S. Ministry of State to coordinate contacts with Iran.

Davoud Hermidas Bavand, university professor, political analyst, and expert on U.S. issues has written for Iranian Diplomacy:

The department is going to be established as an urgent case, and to follow Iran affairs. One of Obama’s promises during his election campaign was pursuing problems with Iran, especially our country’s nuclear technology. This signifies that advisors to Democrats and Obama administration are intent to work on this issue.

Being aligned with Iran is of high priority regarding its regional import. In addition, recently the Republicans attempted to involve Arab states of the region, especially PGCC members, in Iran’s nuclear technology story. By claiming that Iran’s nuclear issue is a regional issue and a threat for regional security at first, the United States tried to bring Arab countries on board. Therefore, establishing a new office in U.S. Ministry of State that concerns Iran affairs shows that they want to probe the case from different angles.

But the idea of establishing an interest bureau in Tehran was suggested indirectly before and admitted by the Congress and U.S. officials also didn’t oppose the plan explicitly. Now Ms. Rice hopes for acceptance of the offer by the Iranian party while stressing that no official offer has yet been made.

Since running the interest section in Tehran depends on Iran’s consent, United States has tried to throw the ball in Iran’s court. They dub Iran as the final arbiter, so if Iran welcomes the plan, it will become realized and if Tehran frowns upon the idea, the rosy climate will change. However, Iran runs an interest section in Washington and reasonably, the American side can ask for the same privilege.

The outcome depends on IRI’s decision. But I believe that since the two parties expect a change in the status quo, both should moderate their position. Americans’ demand for establishing diplomatic ties with Tehran is a step forward per se. Meanwhile, Iran should use the current circumstances for constructive negotiations and to resolve problems.

U.S. emphasis on not changing the Iranian regime and Arabs’ role in Western diplomacy

Americans have already stated that they don’t seek regime change in Iran and ask only for a change in approaches. However, Bush’s advisors had supported what they thought was Iranian nation’s demands. On the other hand, establishing ties with another country or taking a stance against it are followed through certain delimited channels.

How is this related to Arabs’ regional role? Just as Iraq’s problems which Americans stated that it should be solved at an international level, removing threat of Iran’s nuclear program should be done within a regional cooperative framework according to them.

That’s why Americans have included Arabs in West’s diplomacy on Iran. Arabs’ potential in this case is to become realized and they have to enter the scene, since [as Americans try to make believe] Iran’s nuclear program is more of a regional nature than international.

This will affect Iran-Arab ties. Assuming that Iran will stand firmly on its position and will reject any precondition on nuclear talks, and with regard to its position on Arabs’ involvement in this issue -whether it rejects or accepts it-, Iran’s nuclear issue that has turned into a regional concern will undoubtedly have an impact on the future of Iran-PGCC members’ relations.

Meanwhile, Iran has repeatedly asked for expansion of regional cooperation and even the last article of Resolution 598 (ceasefire between Iran and Iraq in 1980s) was Iran’s suggestion. If countries of the region are calling for regional involvement on Iran’s nuclear program, Iran can also ask for engagement and cooperation in all areas, not only in the nuclear issue.

Hence, Iran’s stance towards Arabs’ participation in nuclear talks has two possibilities: either Iran asks for participation in all regional security issues or it totally opposes Arabs’ presence in negotiations and insists on continuing talks only within the IAEA framework and meetings with 5+1.

keywords: Iran-Arab relations. Iran’s nuclear issue. Iran-US relations.