Firm and Patient
Behind United States’ intention to negotiate with Iran despite its unconventional proposal. By Javad Mahzadeh
Contradictory reactions to Iran’s proposal package show that chances of a consensus against Iran are not that high. While Iran’s package was described as a written sermon merely intended to buy time, United States has announced that it is ready to sit at the table of negotiations and discuss the package with Iran.
Returning the ball into Iran’s court did not take long. Less than 48 hours, despite its dissatisfaction with the vague content of Iran’s package, United States agreed to start negotiations. Temporal circumstances are such that it would accept the proposal even if Iran had sent a blank sheet. As it is said in Persian "even a hair off the bear is precious" and United States has learnt this lesson. It well knows Iran’s vital strategic and temporal value and is aware of Iran’s turn towards radicalism which could cause further problems for West in Middle East.
Barack Obama’s plans for Middle East peace, his new Afghanistan strategy, step-by-step withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, Russia’s intention to undermine West’s foothold in the region, its economic influence –along with China- over Iran, and fear of Iran’s nuclearization do not give West further chances to waste time, even if the message they receive from Iran shows no signs of reconciliation.
United States prefers to reach a conclusion vis-à-vis Iran in order to launch future strategies (with cooperation of international community) and stop Iran’s time-killing. That is why the world power faces the risk of unconditional negotiations and accepts Iran’s bizarre package of proposals, just in order to move to the next stage as quick as possible.
Along with launching this policy vis-à-vis Iran, the Obama administration adopted a similar strategy for dealing with North Korea, in order to bring this country back to the hexalateral negotiations of nuclear disarmament.
Without a doubt, neither the United States nor the Europeans have been enchanted by Ahmadinejad’s prophetic mantras on global peace and justice. In fact, they have not even studied the proposal package.
What counts for West at this point is the mere act of Iran sending a package. Iran’s overdue response gave new impetus to the game. The other parties have had been waiting for one move, however insignificant it could be. Although the initial reaction to the package indicated disagreement among Five plus One members and brought smile to Iran’s face, United States’ clever move which brought it criticism disarmed Europeans, took away the chance of passing contradictory remark and convinced them to exercise patience.
The ball is now in Iran’s court and we should wait to see its reaction to negotiations offer. Considering that Iran has announced that it was ready to pursue global denuclearization but would never stop uranium enrichment (and considered that as a concluded issue), predispositions will prevail the negotiations. Neither Iran nor the United States’ letters count as signs of reconciliation.
Both parties have been preparing to impose their demands on the other side already. What bore import for the United States was to thaw the freeze and stop Iran short of radicalism in the absence of negotiations; forcing it to be responsible in other words.
It is only with negotiations that a final conclusion can be achieved and West finds out how it should treat Iran and North Korea. Before United States’ decision to resume negotiations, the situation did not allow for making a firm decision on Iran. It will be only after the new circumstances that China and Russia agree to cooperate with other countries.
At this situation, if Iran simply rejects talks or sets preconditions, or ignores post-negotiation commitments, chances for a consensus among Five plus One members will be higher and Russia and China could not be able to go their own way.
A glance at Obama’s Iran and North Korea policy shows that United States seeks patient but firm steps. Patient, since it had waited for Iran’s response for long, and firm since it wants to stop the other side form bringing any excuses. United States wants to gain the support of its allies.
Returning the ball into Iran’s court did not take long. Less than 48 hours, despite its dissatisfaction with the vague content of Iran’s package, United States agreed to start negotiations. Temporal circumstances are such that it would accept the proposal even if Iran had sent a blank sheet. As it is said in Persian "even a hair off the bear is precious" and United States has learnt this lesson. It well knows Iran’s vital strategic and temporal value and is aware of Iran’s turn towards radicalism which could cause further problems for West in Middle East.
Barack Obama’s plans for Middle East peace, his new Afghanistan strategy, step-by-step withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, Russia’s intention to undermine West’s foothold in the region, its economic influence –along with China- over Iran, and fear of Iran’s nuclearization do not give West further chances to waste time, even if the message they receive from Iran shows no signs of reconciliation.
United States prefers to reach a conclusion vis-à-vis Iran in order to launch future strategies (with cooperation of international community) and stop Iran’s time-killing. That is why the world power faces the risk of unconditional negotiations and accepts Iran’s bizarre package of proposals, just in order to move to the next stage as quick as possible.
Along with launching this policy vis-à-vis Iran, the Obama administration adopted a similar strategy for dealing with North Korea, in order to bring this country back to the hexalateral negotiations of nuclear disarmament.
Without a doubt, neither the United States nor the Europeans have been enchanted by Ahmadinejad’s prophetic mantras on global peace and justice. In fact, they have not even studied the proposal package.
What counts for West at this point is the mere act of Iran sending a package. Iran’s overdue response gave new impetus to the game. The other parties have had been waiting for one move, however insignificant it could be. Although the initial reaction to the package indicated disagreement among Five plus One members and brought smile to Iran’s face, United States’ clever move which brought it criticism disarmed Europeans, took away the chance of passing contradictory remark and convinced them to exercise patience.
The ball is now in Iran’s court and we should wait to see its reaction to negotiations offer. Considering that Iran has announced that it was ready to pursue global denuclearization but would never stop uranium enrichment (and considered that as a concluded issue), predispositions will prevail the negotiations. Neither Iran nor the United States’ letters count as signs of reconciliation.
Both parties have been preparing to impose their demands on the other side already. What bore import for the United States was to thaw the freeze and stop Iran short of radicalism in the absence of negotiations; forcing it to be responsible in other words.
It is only with negotiations that a final conclusion can be achieved and West finds out how it should treat Iran and North Korea. Before United States’ decision to resume negotiations, the situation did not allow for making a firm decision on Iran. It will be only after the new circumstances that China and Russia agree to cooperate with other countries.
At this situation, if Iran simply rejects talks or sets preconditions, or ignores post-negotiation commitments, chances for a consensus among Five plus One members will be higher and Russia and China could not be able to go their own way.
A glance at Obama’s Iran and North Korea policy shows that United States seeks patient but firm steps. Patient, since it had waited for Iran’s response for long, and firm since it wants to stop the other side form bringing any excuses. United States wants to gain the support of its allies.