USA_IRI Diplomatic Initiative, Cracks on “The Thin Ice”

Bina Darabzand

1/10/2013

As Rouhani’s Deputy in Parliamentary Affairs is scheduled to meet the Majlis (Parliament) administrators today, to report on “Rouhani’s achievement in NY”, cracks began to appear on the thin ice of IR-US diplomacy.

The first indication of this crack was Obama’s announcement after the visit of Israel’s PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, saying “All options, including military action are not off the table”. This statement immediately became the headline of all hardliners’ websites and publications in the Islamic Republic, followed by harsh commentaries by hardline leaders that had been put on the defensive during the last few days.

The common line of this new offensive by the hardliners is that “US intentions towards IR have always been sinister and this will never change”.  Therefore, "Rouhani and his team of negotiators are over optimistic and naïve in their new approach of diplomacy."

Of course, the response of IR foreign minister to Obama’s announcement did not help the matter. Javad Zarif’s response came as tweets saying: “President Obama needs consistency to promote mutual confidence. Flip flop destroys trust and undermines US credibility.” And “Pres. Obama’s presumption that Iran is negotiating because of his illegal threats and sanctions is disrespectful of a nation, macho and wrong.”

Also, the Islamic Republic’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in a press conference today, stated: “We expect the American authorities’ behavior to be based on realism towards IRI and converse respectfully with the Iranian nation… Of course, the pressures of the Zionist Regime, now that they are isolated and angry with acceptance of the moderate government’s policies by the world, will continue."

The IR moderates, on the other hand, after enjoying a few days of offensive position, have been pushed back to their more familiar grounds of the past 35 years. Sadegh Zibakalam, who has been a vocal supporter of Rouhani’s new approach to US and direct talks between Rouhani and Obama, had to defend the route of the current negotiations by stating: “So far, no points have been given to US by Rouhani to expect points in return.”

Presidential adviser Hesamadin Ashena, who was with Rouhani in his trip to NY, took a different approach to justify Obama’s statement. In his interview with IRIB, he points out the need for Iranian people to “understand Obama’s position”. He said that Obama is in the midst of a “budget dispute with conservatives.” Then he asked: “Was there a hint of instability in principles in Zarif’s meeting with Kerry?  We, who were there, say that there was no transience…They say the president has no rights to negotiate. Who says that? The Majlis (Parliament) says that? The supreme leader says that? Or the people? Except for the Zionist regime, there is no red line for the president.  It is his duty to negotiate with the president of the US to lift the sanctions.”

Not only is Ashena’s statement the complete truth, it is also the moment of the truth. Let us not forget that if the IR and the Iranian people are drawn back to a state of war, which they already experienced for 8 years against Iraq, and which is what the hardliners silently hope for, there will be no control over Iran’s nuclear plans, nor, any indications of the effectiveness of sanctions in that situation. For the sake of Iranian people and the world, I hope that the two sides listen to their own advice of “Less Talk and More Action!”