Last week, President Obama publicly lashed out at "loose talk of war" on Iran and warned of its consequences for the American people. To date, his so-called "carrot and stick" Iran strategy has driven the world closer to military confrontation. That is why Obama's recent stance has emboldened those seeking to resolve Iran's nuclear crisis diplomatically. The key question in the West, however, is whether or not Iran's willingness to pursue diplomacy is in good faith. Washington, London and Paris suspect that Iran's diplomatic outreach is a ploy for buying time.
To that end, the deep-seated mistrust between the West and the Iranian regime is now institutionalized, making it difficult for either side to find face-saving solutions. In Tehran, the ever-increasing sanctions have enhanced the regime's suspiciousness over Western intentions to resolve the crisis diplomatically. This mutual mistrust has impeded prior negotiations, limiting them to monologues and an exchange of ultimatums. However, a closer look at a series of recent developments in Iran should give pause to the rampant suspicion surrounding its intentions in the upcoming negotiations.
This week, Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili welcomed constructive talks with the P5+1 -- China, Russia, Britain, France and the United States, plus Germany. In a letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, Jalili underlined Iran's interest in resumption of "serious talks without preconditions with the aim of achieving permanent cooperation," and agreed to set a date and venue for the talks. Such direct language regarding Iran's nuclear program is rarely used by the regime - thus demonstrating an increased degree of seriousness in Tehran as the talk of war escalates. Evidently, Iranian decision-makers are perfectly aware of the costs Israel would face if it attacked during negotiations.
In an unprecedented gesture last week, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei briefly praised President Obama for throwing cold water on the rising rhetoric of war, describing Obama's move as "a departure from illusion." As the world tightens the screws on the Islamic Republic, giving praise to an American president is a very rare -- but not incidental -- posture by Khamenei, whose two-decade leadership has been intertwined with demonization of American politicians and policies. The fact that Khamenei -- who wields ultimate authority in Iran -- commented on Obama's remarks with a visibly positive tone tempers the role of his anti-American perceptions in the country's policymaking.
Addressing the Assembly of Experts, Khamenei further that Obama is "in illusion" for thinking that sanctions would bring Iran to its knees. A cursory glance at this comment comment suggests a return to the usual theme of denunciation by Khamenei. However, combined with his earlier praise for Obama, the sum of Khamenei's words must be seen as a hint to western decision-makers that the progress on negotiations would accelerate if the sanctions machine came to a halt.
In addition to hinting at the West, Khamenei is preparing Iran's domestic arena for negotiations. Internal factors have always influenced the Islamic Republic's nuclear policies, and despite the marginalization of pro-reform forces, rifts within the conservative camp are running deeper as factions struggle over political and financial resources. It is clear to both the P5+1 and Khamenei that factional infighting adversely affects nuclear negotiations -- as recent history shows. For this very reason, Khamenei is trying to present an image of a unified Iran vis-Ã -vis the world.
In a reconciliatory gesture, Khamenei re-appointed former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to another five-year term as the head of Iran's Expediency Council. Most liberal-minded figures and technocrats in the council -- such as opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi; Rafsanjani's brother Mohammad Hashemi; and former petroleum minister Bijan Namdar-Zanganeh -- have been replaced by figures showing fealty to Khamenei, such as Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi and his advisor Sadeq Vaezzadeh. While the council's makeup is now more conservative and closer to Khamenei, reinstating a Rafsanjani who lost all of his power bases is an attempt to leave the door ajar for national reconciliation. More importantly, given his reputation of pragmatism, Rafsanjani's re-appointment is a message to the West that the Islamic Republic not opposed to making a deal.
Also noteworthy is President Ahmadinejad's recent appearance before parliament - the first time in the Islamic Republic's history that a president was subjected to interrogation by lawmakers. Ahmadinejad was summoned to explain his economic policies, budget management, cabinet reshuffling, and last year's dispute with the Supreme Leader. While this blatant move by the conservative-dominated parliament epitomizes divisions among the so-called principlists, the interrogation session was far less explosive that many expected. Ahmadinejad responded to questioning in a dismissive manner, leaving many parliamentarians insulted and humiliated -- yet no whistle was blown, and no major controversy erupted. Notwithstanding a handful of outrageous comments made by furious lawmakers regarding possible impeachment scenarios, it remains unlikely that the parliament further escalates its conflict with a lame duck president.
With Khamenei emboldened by both a weakened pro-Ahmadinejad faction and parliamentary elections that went off without a hitch, his efforts have focused on pushing for unity among rival conservative factions. Should these factions unite under the auspices of the Supreme Leader, western diplomats will face a less challenging task in advancing nuclear negotiations forward.
These domestic political developments in Iran indicate the regime's serious intentions on breaking the deadlock and making real progress in the coming nuclear talks. For intentions to become results, it is important that the western response to Iran acknowledges the past, avoids its entrapments, and focuses on the future.
Angie Ahmadi is an Associate at the National Iranian American Council.
Hmmm.... Sounds to me like somebody with the initials BHO doesn't believe them...
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's Representative Office at the International Atomic Energy Agency announced on Tuesday that the country will be ready to provide the UN nuclear agency with one-time access to its Parchin military test facility once modalities of Iran-IAEA cooperation have been agreed on, reminding that the facility is a highly sensitive military site already visited by inspectors twice.
"Given the fact that Parchin is a military site and finding access to such a site is a time-consuming process and cannot be done repeatedly, and taking into account that the Agency has been asked (by Iran) to integrate all the related issues, including the hydrodynamic tests, permission will be granted for access" to Parchin (of course, only after the aforementioned demand is materialized), a statement by Iran's Representative Office at the IAEA said.
"Clearly, this process can start only when an agreement is made on the modality plan," it said, and reminded that the two sides have already agreed that the IAEA's demand for accessing Parchin be postponed until after the next meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors currently underway in Vienna.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME POSITION AS ISRAEL
Israel has repeatedly committed unprovoked acts of war against other weaker countries, and just like GWB, claimed that these illegal attacks are self-defense
Iran should not let UN inspectors in,
All that will do in the end, is provide military targeting information for the US & Israel to more efficiently commit the illegal attacks that they have been openly talking about for quite some time.
Lebanon to Purchase Iran's Electricity
TEHRAN Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that his country will import power supplies from Iran in near future.
We have no problem with purchasing electricity from Iran and welcome Iranian firms in this regard, Mikati told Islamic republic news agency
Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Qazanfar Roknabadi has also said that part of electricity the Arab state needs will be supplied to national grid by end of next month (April) after some technical problems are solved
US Exporters to Sell 220,000 tons of Wheat to Iran despite Sanctions
TEHRAN - US sources announced that despite unilateral sanctions imposed by Washington against Tehran, Iran is close to completing purchases of 220,000 tons of wheat from American exporters due to be shipped as early as April.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9012152501
http://english.farsnews.com/NewsV.php?news=all&i=5 gas pipeline
Deputy Minister: Iran, Iraq to Form Teams to Develop Joint Oil Fields
TEHRAN - Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Zeiqami stressed fruitfulness of negotiations between Tehran and Baghdad on cooperation in oil sector, and announced that two neighbors have decided to set up joint teams to study development of their shared oil fields
Iraq has now linked up with Iran to buy their electricity. many countries have come out to support Iran, namely India, Brazil, Afgan, Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, China and Russia. The USA Military complex must be hopping mad at this prospect.
1) The only real power in Iran rests in a very opaque manner with the Supreme-Leader and the 12-member Guardian Council
SO FOR STARTERS, it's a waste of time talking to any negotiators, ambassadors, or even the President Ahmadinejad
2) What the Supreme-Leader said in regards to Pres Obama, was unusual, but ultimately TRIVIAL, and meaningless
3) All that we know for sure about the Supreme-Leader & the Guardian-Council, collectively is that they are not in favor of free & fair elections, and have no qualms about putting down public protests over stolen elections with brutal, and deadly force.
AND MIND YOU, they won't allow free & fair elections for government positions which cannot exercise any REAL POWER,
AND, also elections where only "APPROVED' candidates are allowed to run in the first place.
4) Unless you are sitting down with the Supreme-Leader AND the Guardian-Council together, you cannot make a deal that is worth the paper it is printed on.
SIMILARLY, in North Korea, unless you make a deal directly with the guy who's first name is Kim, then you're just whistling dixie.
This is a timely and serious post . I hope the Ayatollah Khamenei who has declared Nuclear Bombs as HARAAM , and since the Islamic constitution forbids Iran from Starting a WAR, it would really make him lose any MORAL AUTHORITY if he allows the Gov to do otherwise.
It is indeed a good sign that he has finally praised our President Obama who is definitely a person of GOOD WILL.
Let us hope that Decency will prevail over evil WAR MONGERING.
How do accomplish this magical divination of what is in other's minds?
there can be only one.
Furthermore, it's not just Israel which would be threatened by a nuclear armed Iran...so would the entire region. The world needs to unite and first, prevent any more states from acquiring nuclear weapons, and second, pressure those that have nuclear weapons to disarm.
I welcome any positive and peaceful approach to resolve issues between countries.
At the end of the day, they are simply a powerless collection of puppets;
. . . as is the Parliament & the President
Ahmadinejad is a slave,
Supreme leader is a slave,
Rafsanjani is a slave,
Parliament members are the slave.
I think all of the above agree with you and tell Iranians that Allah is the master and they are all slaves of Allah.
You should take comfort as being a Muslim and have the same ideology as the Iranian leaders and most Iranians.
Where did you study about Islam?
do not be too greedy.