IRAN AND NEW US ADMINISTRATION EXPECTS "POSITIVE STEPS" IN FUTURE TIES
By Safa Haeri
WASHINGTON-PARIS 19TH Jan (IPS) As the incoming President-elect George W. Bush Administration said it was prepared to "nuance" its policy toward Iran in an effort to encourage dialogue and enhance trade relations, Iranian political analysts said they do not expect any major change in Tehran-Washington relations before the next Iranian presidential elections scheduled for next June.
Speaking Wednesday during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Secretary of State-designate Colin Powell said considering "changes" that took place in Iran after the elections of Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Khatami, "we can nuance our policy in that regard".
His call for "improved relations" with the Islamic Republic of Iran came 24 hours after his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi had urged the new US Administration to "leave behind wrong policies of the Clinton era" and start a new departure, "correcting" Washington’s diplomacy towards both Iran and the region.
Suggesting that the new Administration take advantage of the experience of the Clinton era with respect to its "incorrect policies" towards Iran, Kharrazi said, referring to the "consensus" shared by international and major companies in the U.S. regarding the lifting of sanctions imposed on Iran, "the transition of power in the White House has presented an opportunity for the Bush Administration to make changes in the failed U.S. policies towards Iran."
"Considering that the new Republican team now installed at the White House has closer relations with major US oil firms that calls for an end to the US unilateral oil embargo against Iran, one can reasonably expect the new Administration take measure easing trade relations with Tehran, including investment in Iranian oil industries", said Dr. Mansur Farhang, a professor of international politics in New York.
"The new U.S. Administration officials need to take a serious decision to overcome obstacles and create new areas for U.S.-Iran relations to grow, which calls for drastic changes in their current policies towards Iran", the pro-conservative Foreign Minister told the official news agency IRNA.
"The new administration should acknowledge the fact that as a regional power Iran can play a crucial role in creating peace, security and economical prosperity in the region."
In answer, Mr. Powell acknowledged that Washington has "serious problems" in its relations with Iran that "I don’t mean to minimise, including longstanding US concerns about Tehran's support for terrorism, its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and human rights abuses", all conditions set by past US administrations to normalise ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Of particular concern to the US was Iran-Russia newly sealed "strategic co-operation" in military and political fields.
On this issue, Mr. Kharrazi confirmed that Iran would pursue this path considering "national and regional interests" only and based "first and always" on Iranian national interests. "In this regard, we welcome expanding ties with our neighbours", he added.
In his remarks to the Committee, Mr. Powell observed that following the elections of Mr. Khatami in May 1997, there has been changes in Iran that indicated Iranian people’s "desire for overture and moderation", adding that the US was ready to help the Iranians achieving these goals. "Iranians are not our enemies", he stated.
The United States and Iran severed diplomatic relations following the hostage taking of 55 US diplomats in Tehran months after the victory of the Islamic revolution in 1979.
However, to encourage the Islamic Republic to open an official dialogue, the outgoing Democrat Administration made several bold steps, most important of them and emotionally important to the Iranians was the official "regrets" presented by Mrs. Madeleine Albright about CIA's involvement in the 1953 coup that toppled the government of popular Prime minister Mohammad Mossadeq and returning Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to his throne.
Followed lifting of import ban by the US of Iranian caviar, carpets and pistachios and during the last United Nations General Assembly, the remarked presence of State Secretary during President Khatami's speech about his pet project of Dialogue Among Civilisations and Mr. Clintons deliberate change of schedule to listen to his Iranian counterpart address to the UN in New York.
In his interview with IRNA, Mr. Kharrazi described all these moves as both "insufficient" and "superficial", a typical attitude of the Iranian clerical rulers who always beg for getting more without willing to give anything.
In an authorised commentary that reflects the official Iranian points of view, the conservatives-controlled Tehran Radio said the eight years of Clinton Administration had been a "full and complete fiasco" on all domestic and foreign policies, particularly towards Iran.
"As both the American press and officials have acknowledged, Clinton’s anti-Iranian policy ended by isolating the United States more than Iran", the commentary said.
It also said that not only the "moral corruption" of Clinton severely damaged America's credit and prestige in the world, but also proved the world at large how "morally corrupt" were US policy-makers, "not respecting moral and family values" referring to President Bill Clinton’s sex scandal with Ms. Monica Lewinsky, a White House junior clerk.
"The new Bush Administration would show more flexibility in its dealing with Tehran, particularly in trade relations, allowing probably US oil firms investing in Iran, but on political level, it would wait and observe developments inside Iran", said Mr. Jahanshah Javid, Editor of the "Iranians", an independent and popular Iranian internet site based in Washington DC told Iran Press Service.
Mr. Farhang confirmed this view, adding that US oil companies had "invested a lot" in bridging trade gaps with Iran, including last year’s ceremonies in New York at which took part for the first time some Iranian lawmakers led by the Speaker of the Iranian parliament Hojjatoleslam Mehdi Karrubi and four US congressmen and senators.
In his opinion, human rights issues under the new Republican Administration would have "less say" than under the outgoing one. "In the view of the Republicans, human rights issues must not be mixed with foreign policy matters", he told IPS during a telephone interview.
However, both of them said Iran expects the US to make the first "positive step", starting with lifting trade embargo. ENDS US IRAN RELATIONS 19101