New Futures For Iran?
h/t In2thefray
It’s been a long time since the Iranian Hostage Crisis which initially sparked sparked our political embargo against the Persian theocracy and it appears to recent developments may be turning our relationships with them around.
Now that “W” is on its way out, Iran looks as if it may be taking real steps towards reconsidering its position on the United States because of the recent election of Barack Obama.
The Barack Obama’s election: The future of Iran-US ties conference will offer assessments on the outcome of the US presidential elections and its impact on Washington-Tehran relations.
Iran’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammad-Javad Zarif, will share his opinion about president-elect Barack Obama’s Nov. 4 victory and his future foreign policy.
Obama’s pledge to hold unconditional talks with the Islamic Republic has brought hope of a much-awaited ‘change’ in frozen Iran-US ties.
This is while former US intelligence officials said on Friday that the Bush administration had increased misunderstandings between Washington and Tehran, to an extent that Americans still thought of Iran as they did back in 1979 – when the two countries severed all diplomatic ties.
This comes the same day that Taliban connected Al Qaeda declare some sort of unnofficial war against Iran by kidnapping an Iranian diplomat in Pakistan.
The abduction of an Iranian attaché in Pakistan can be interpreted as the onset of war between Iran and al-Qaeda, says a senior militant.
“This is payback time for Iran and for its active involvement in destabilizing the Taliban government in Afghanistan and for facilitating the US-led invasion on Afghanistan through pro-Iranian Afghan groups,” Italy’s Adnkronos International news agency quoted a senior militant as saying on condition of anonymity.
“[The diplomat was kidnapped in retaliation for] the arrest of top al-Qaeda leaders in Iran, for facilitating the US invasion on Iraq through pro-Iran militias and last but not the least for waging the war on the Taliban,” claimed the militant.
So could the Islamic fundamentalist State of Iran be our next ally in the war on terror? It’s quite possible. Iran, a Shiite state, has no particular love for Sunni extremist Al Qaeda and Taliban. With tensions in Iraq waning Iran is likely to look East, could it be to America’s benefit?
-Marc-
Thank you. Good post too.
What’s that Arab saying? “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Weirder things have happened.
Do you mean “Arabic” saying?
You already know from my own post that I disagree with any Iranian involvement in our current War on Terror.
Beside the high potential for sparking sectarian conflict, there is the issue of tit-for-tat with Iran.
What will we be required to give in order to get? When thinking about the things Iran wants, I think that is an important question to look at before we jump in bed with them.
I’ve been hearing and reading quite a bit of speculation about another Iranian revolution. The Iranian people are not happy with the direction their country has been taken by the mullas.
Iran has elections in the summer of next year. I think the future of that country and our relationship with it rests a lot on that. I say let Iran figure out it’s place in the world ( keeping our nose out of their business ), and then we can see about war relations.
What’s that old Neo-Con saying? “The enemy of my enemy of my enemy is still my enemy…and I can’t get fooled twice!”
Pill, where have you been reading/ seeing this speculation?
Where I’ve been hearing it is in university classes.
I can’t recall where I read the couple articles about it. I’ll keep my eyes open and post links when I find them.
Saudi Arabia is ally number 1 in the region, and they’re possibly even more fundamentally religious than Iran. So, really nothing new here, just another fundamental Islamic ally really…
Imteresting… PBS Fromtline had a program called Bush’s War. Soon after the US took Baghdad, Iran tried to open relations with the Bush Administration. The Iatollah’s top representative wrote a letter offering support and some concessions. The letter went unanswered. Interestingly, Iran was also one of the US’s earliest allies in Afghanistan in 2001. Goes to show how screwed up the neo-cons really are.
The problem is not the political president Ahmadinejad (whatever he is a big fool) the real problem are the mulla’s and anothers insanes crazy muslims, they are the real problem, Ala’s followers
The war is on the table, Obama knows, the next and the first thing to do for the new US presidential politics, to stop Iranian dreams. Sunnitas want it too.
Although I believe Mr. Obama has the will to negotiate with Iran, the outcomes of such negociations are quite hard to predict. Of course, negociations are better than threats, but what will acutally be discussed ? What does Iran wants ?
Well, one of the topics will probably be Israel. Iran is probably gonna ask for guarantees that it won’t be attacked by Israel, which I’m not sure that the Jewish country will accept easily, especially after various threats and missiles tests coming out of Iran…
Then there is the embargo of course. But then, if the US is ready to ease (I’m quite sure it won’t go as far as lifting it completely), then it creates quite a precedent for Cuba, which, after all, haven’t done anything to deserve it.
As far as I hope this won’t end up in another quagmire (because, really, the US cannot afford another war right now…overstreched as the military is, plus the financial crisis), we will have to wait a long time before the Iranian problem is solved, so be patient, as I don’t think Mr. Obama, as good and competent as he looks, can’t solve every problem in the world.
Quick question. Which of the current US allies would be extremely pissed if US and Iran got closer?
Bonus question: How much influence does this country have in the US?
Extra bonus question: What ties does this ally have with the next US administration?
There you go.
Irans rep for a new reform movement comes from intellectuals hob knobbing with the cosmopolitan metros of Tehran and a scattering of college kids from other parts of the country. The common folk of Iran are open to ties with the West but are equally quick to respond to the scimitar rattling against the Great Satan and Israel on many issues especially the nuclear program. When your just a schmuck waiting in line for rationed subsidized gasoline for you crappy little car in an oil rich nation you get to thinking. “Why can’t I have cheap electricity “?
Anyway the Councils could easily throw the people a bone of calm and prosperity via an opening and less radical approach. Bush Doctrine assures Ahmadinejad type leaders (figureheads) for the public consumption.
Iran will have to accept Israel on simple Realpolitik terms. Israel isn’t going anywhere and the region has higher interests to the rulers in Tehran than Israel.
@Lets not forget: #1 Israel. #2 Not much and lessening every day,just ask the Syrians. # 3 I’m guessing you think Emmanuel add SoS Clinton and assorted Clintonistas and I say so what.