Ya Hussein!

In February of 2007, when I was sitting with former President Khatami of Iran in his office in North Tehran, he asked me about Barack Obama, whom Iranians were hearing (and were very curious) about. "He could be the next president," I said, "but you know, his middle name is Hussein, and that won't go over well with many Americans." President Khatami was surprised to hear of Obama's father's Muslim connection of Obama's, one that he hadn't ever bothered to deny. "Ajab! Really?" he said with a big smile. The idea that a Black man might be taken seriously in a run for his party's nomination was surprising enough to the Iranian leadership and to most ordinary Iranians, but a Black man with a Muslim middle name, the name of the prophet's grandson and a Shiite saint, was almost too much to consider. At 7am Tehran time on the 15th of Aban, 1387, while the race for the presidency is not yet called but is all but over, and as many Iranians turn on their televisions and radios and tune into CNN or the BBC through their millions of illegal satellite dishes, or even their own State news networks (who do not want to appear to devote too much attention to the U.S. elections), it no longer is.

The Iranian revolution, born almost thirty years earlier, had been a revolution of the oppressed, and Iranian revolutionaries, still very much in charge in Iran, had a soft spot for African-Americans, who they viewed as the oppressed in America. The sentiments that led Ayatollah Khomeini and those revolutionaries to release all the African-American hostages at the US embassy in Tehran within a week or so of the takeover in 1979 had not died, despite the decades of animosity between U.S. administrations, its Black officials included, and Iran. A year and a half later, in early September of 2008, I was back in Khatami's offices in Jamaran, Tehran, and he, along with most Iranians, was contemplating an African-American president in America. All of Iran had watched the two political conventions on satellite television, and although Sarah Palin was deemed a cynical but smart selection for V.P., there was both astonishment that Obama might actually win the presidency combined with a fatalistic disbelief that Americans would actually end up voting for him (or that, for the conspiracy-minded, such as President Ahmadinejad, the idea that he would be allowed to become president).

Tonight, as Americans have apparently decided they would prefer Senator Obama to Senator McCain as their next president, and as the "military-industrial complex" or whatever cabal of special interests (if they exist or have the power, as conspiracy theorists around the world claim) have been either unable or unwilling to prevent Americans from making that choice, there is a sigh of relief, and disbelief, in many quarters in the Middle East, including in Iran. Iran has long wished for a real détente with the U.S.; a détente that recognized Iran's legitimacy as an Islamic Republic, as a sovereign nation with its own concerns and interests, but above all, a détente based on mutual respect and recognition of Iran's legitimate rights under international law. And of course the Iranian people overwhelmingly want relations with the U.S., something firebrand President Ahmadinejad, perhaps the most hard-line and conservative of Iran's presidents since the early days of the revolution, recognizes. He has gone further in attempting an outreach to America than most other Iranian leaders, including his unprecedented writing of a letter to the U.S. president, but so far to a deafening silence from the Bush administration.

While Iranians are under no illusions that the distrust and antagonism that exists between their country and the United States will disappear overnight, they are also hopeful that American foreign policy towards them will, at the every least, be re-directed towards understanding and reconciliation rather than demonization, hegemony, and military threats. Iran, which generally tries to stay away from appearing to endorse, and therefore interfere, in the elections of any foreign country, couldn't resist the temptation this year. State radio on Monday broadcast a commentary in favor of Obama, saying, "Obama entered the race under the slogan of change. The American people expect their government to put aside neo-conservative policy of unilateralism and return to dialogue in their dealings with the international community."

The disbelief and even shock that some Iranians might feel as they wake up on Wednesday the fifth of November, just as the news networks here are calling the election for Obama, is partly because the American people, and the American system, have shown that the promise of America, an empty one to them and many others across the globe for the past eight years, is once again alive and well. A remarkable opportunity has opened up, for both the U.S. and Iran, to begin the process of reconciliation, and Iranians are hoping that President Obama views this opportunity as they do. He will have an extraordinary amount of goodwill from the Iranian people, and the government will find it very hard to demonize him as they have previous American politicians. When I was in Tehran in August and September of this year, many ordinary Iranians had already begun, as Persians are wont to with those they admire, to claim Obama as their own. What had started as a joke, that Obama's family had Persian ancestry and were originally from Bushehr on the Persian Gulf (once a major trading post with Africa), was fast becoming accepted by some as possibly true, even, to my surprise, some in the educated elite.

President Obama, his future cabinet, and his advisors, need only make the effort to understand Iranians; to understand their culture, their motivations, the nuance in their rhetoric, and their ambitions, to engage in what could very easily be fruitful negotiations with Iran over everything from the nuclear issue to Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Palestine/Israel. What is rarely mentioned in our media, and what the U.S. government has refused to acknowledge ever since it inducted Iran into the "axis of evil", is how often U.S. and Iranian interests intersect rather than collide, something every single politician, from the reformists to the conservatives, has told me in Iran.

It was exactly twenty-nine years ago today, November 4th, 1979, that Iranian student revolutionaries overran the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took its diplomats hostage, a painful memory for most Americans and the cause of the rupture in relations between the U.S. and Iran. Two months ago when I walked past the embassy in downtown Tehran, one could still clearly make out the imprint of the seal of the embassy, eagle and all, on a wall. For twenty-nine years, the Iranians had not bothered to erase every last symbol of what they call American Imperialism. And of course every year, including this one, the Iranian government stages rallies and demonstrations in front of that former embassy (now a rarely visited museum of the "den of spies" and a Revolutionary Guards barracks), rallying the faithful, albeit a less and less enthusiastic faithful each year, to illustrate Iran's resistance to Imperialism. If President Obama has the will, perhaps the seal can go back up on that wall, exactly where its outline is clearly marked, and the Iranian government needn't trouble itself with organizing a thirtieth anniversary demonstration.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election

Comments

[CanHandleTheTruth]

The wider tactical geostrategic objective is to engage Iran and strip its loyalties from the widening Russo-Chinese Axis. Their Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has Iran and Pakistan on 'observer' status, and threatens the strategic interests of the US/UK in the Mid-East, Caucasus, South and Central Asia. Iran has also proposed a natural gas OPEC with Russia, Qatar and possibly others (Venezuela?) which Washington frowns upon, so plenty of work needs to be done.

Zbigniew Brzezinksi is the mastermind behind said design to re-establish ties with Iran (ironic, considering he spearheaded the Shah's removal in '78-'79), with his son Mark advising Obama in foreign policy.

Obama serves as "Marketing CEO" for Brand USA in the Mid-East as well as in Africa, yet the core incentives still involve energy resources and geostrategic hegemony. Hence the new anti-neocon approach to Iran; Hence the emphasis on AFRICOM in the Pentagon, et al.

[wavethrush]

It's so unfortunate that the Bush administration as well as the conservative right in this country has believed that having talks with countries like Iran is a sign of weakness, that cutting ourselves off from countries our administration does not agree with will serve to make situations better, or be the path towards peace. They could not be more wrong. It's a good feeling to have elected a new president whose agenda represents the majority of American's worldview, unlike George W. Bush. Obama says he plans to always be honest with us. It is such a refreshing thing to hear after 8 years of what has felt like the most secretive, dishonest presidential administration in my lifetime - and at the cost of so many lives...I want to feel proud of my country again. Hooman, your contributions towards America understanding Iran are so important, especially now. Keep doing what you do!

[bayside]

Times are a changing Hooman.. I hope Obama will pick a cabinet that can talk to someone that disagrees with them as republicans do not have that ability , It wont happen all at once but providing we get the right cabinet we will get back our honor, integrity, compassion and rule by example like we use to before the david dukes came into office..There still are a number of them yet but we will keep trying..I just hope Obama is not gullible believing what bush and company tells him, I hope he has learned ..Bush is very good at saying god bless you then sticking a knife in your back...

[Horst]

Iran is a bad actor certainly. It also is true that we have to deal with them pragmatically. I think the Iranians no longer are the same as those who bombed the elderly Jews in Buenos Aires but that doesn't mean we should trust them. Our stupid foreign policy defeated Iran's two worst enemies....Saddam and the Taliban...so it is time America got smart.

[sticksnstones]

Sorry to have to be the one to tell you, but the US hasn't "defeated" anyone in the Mid-East. What we have done is convince Iran that the only way to insure against a future direct US attack is to get going on a nuclear arms program. And if we don't change our tune, Canada and Mexico may very follow suit....

[Horst]

Just wait until Obama picks Rahm Emanuel as his Chief of Staff...that good will will evaporate.

[silverball]

oh please....are you stupid!!! this is about competence in government...not individuals deciding personal agendas....and why is rahm a bad choice??? aren't you tired of all this premature partisan bickering...i am...and obviously the majority of this country is too....why don't we wait and see how competent his administration is before you judge...after all, he did run a pretty good campaign, don't you think....?

[Mason]

I've believed for a long time that Iran is our natural ally in the Middle East and the nation we should be most concerned about is Saudi Arabia. I believe our willingness to honor and respect Iran's rights under international law will force Israel and Iran to negotiate a compromise solution that will ultimately benefit everyone in the region by creating the possibility of an independent Palestine, which is the key to establishing an enduring peace in the region. Such a peace is the only hope for neutering the virulent brand of Islamic Sunni belief that rules Saudi Arabia and produced Osama Bin Laden and the vast majority of terrorists.

Americans have to understand that Saudi Arabia mass produces terrorists who hate the Shia as much as they hate the Christian and the Jew. Therefore, peace in the Middle East is not possible until Shia, Christians, and Jews in the region agree to an independent state of Palestine. Such an agreement is possible, if the United States and Iran reach a peace accord that ultimately forces Israel to the bargaining table. With our support, and led by Iran and Israel, the nations that surround Saudi Arabia can use peace to choke off the fuel of discord, hate, and desire for revenge that feeds the Saudi religious engine of destruction threatening their peace and security far more than it threatens ours. This can only happen if and when we withdraw our troops from the region.

[krompessor]

Mason.....I was born in that region and you are very correct. The country that's more fearful of a strong Iran in the Middle East, is not Israel, but Saudi Arabia. Their fanatic brand of Wahhabi Islam not only plants the seed of extremism and hate, also brings a dark cloud over the world's view of Islam. The Bush administration branding of Iran as "axis of evil" was mostly to satisfy a long partnership between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, our so called ally. There's been a long power struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia as the region's Islamic superpower, and also Iran as being the only Shia Islamic country in a region dominated by Sunni monarchy's and ideology. You need no further evidence of this than recent events in Iraq. Saudi money funds Sunni extremist in Iraq not only to fight against the U.S., but also fight the Shia guerrillas. Likewise Iran funds money to the Shia extremist to fight the U.S. and the Sunni guerrillas. If ever the United States was to attack Iran, no country in the Middle East would be happier than Saudi Arabia.

[KeepMeLearning]

Most Americans do not understand how deep the rift between Shias and Sunnis run, that Iranians are not Arabs, and that favoring one upsets the other immensely.

I'm happy that at least with Obama we have a chance to bring these disparate viewpoints to the table and possibly find a diplomatic solution to a very worrisome situation.

[dctackett]

It is always great to read your insightful posts, you seem to be a very reasonable man. I look forward to improved relations with Iran and hopefully an increasing peace throughout that region and prosperity for all.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

George Bush has destroyed the name of the American people and soiled our reputation. He is gone now!

Let's all make a fresh start. We have an intelligent, open-minded president, who has compassion and understand for ALL people. George Bush was an idiot.

I hope all Iranian's understand, this is a NEW BEGINNING for America.....an America that hopes for World Peace, not its domination.

[KoolBreez]

During the hostage crisis, the Iranians had freed black Americans saying :your country oppresses you enough..

[jttalker]

What neo-Chamberlain foolishness. Watch your back, Tel Aviv.

[jeg]

Depends. If Iran is willing to acknowledge Israel's right to exist, support a resolution of the Israeli / Palestinian conflict (probably via a two state system), that would at least form the basis for negotiations. I'm not saying we can trust them... but then again, I'm sure there are large factions within Iran that would say we're equally untrustworthy.

The current situation in the Middle East is unsustainable, and will, sooner or later, draw all the major powers into a major conflict, unless something drastic happens.

We can either ignore Iran, negotiate with Iran, or invade Iran. Let's try to pick one that's a bit more beneficial than our actions in Iraq.

[silverball]

well, we've ignored them...haven't negotiated with them....and why would you think invading is a good option???....it's a little like cuba...after 45+ years of "isolating" them with our embargo, do you think we would be better off invading or negotiating???....personally, i, like the majority in this country, would like to try diplomacy....finally, we have someone that is capable of that "concept".....an idea obviously not in the vocabulary of our current 'cowboy" and his sidekick, darth vader......and you can see how well that has worked for the past 7+ years.....

[chaos4700]

Because it just isn't an internet discussion with a neoconservative until he compares somebody to the Nazis.

[That Guy]

Lol. Really.

The ever trusty reductio ad hitlerum

[wolfmason]

I can only hope Iran follows our lead in their next election, moving away from outwardly belligerent, religious extremist conservative leadership, toward leaders willing to work toward something other than war and strife.

[Bagger]

I really hope Obama will benefit everyone in the world.

[jazsabeti]

great article as always Hooman.

[democritus]

As always it is interesting to hear perspectives on the US. I urge the author to continue posting.

It is ironic that Bush removed Saddam, the main bulwark against Iranian power. Obama will have to deal with Bush's legacy of a strengthened Iran. Robert Baer has a new book on Iran in which he advocates constructive engagement as the only rational choice.

The election of a biracial President is a milestone on the long road away from slavery and represents a significant opportunity to work on the karma of the US. Truly a historic event. It remains to be seen how much freedom he will have to change foreign policy.

[D Right One]

Happy Obama Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We do need to tread carefully in the ME. Bush/Cheney didn't understand the culture and always took the stance of a threat first is better than talk. Let's sanction the Iranians to force them to do our bidding. We've got a lot of work ahead of us. I do feel like we on the right course for dealing with the Middle East with an intellectual in office rather than the warhawks and cowboys for the last eight years.