The Syria conflict has given Iran something it has not had for a while: a big bright spotlight. And Iran seems to covet that as much as it covets its uranium enrichment program.
Since the Syria war, Iran has been thrown in the middle of the diplomatic haggle to resolve the civil war in the middle East. And it revels in that role.
The newly elected president, Rouhani, has seized the moment to try and bring a new face to the UN, and with it a message of conciliation. Ahmadinejad gone, this is a new dawn for Iran, he seems to be saying.
But this bag of tricks has already been tried by Iran, and not too many are convinced. It is too obvious, this attempt at reconnecting with the west, and not so subtle either. In fact Rouhani very bluntly has said that 'if' the sanctions are lifted, in toto, then they will come to the table to negotiate the nuclear program and 'possibly' allow the nuclear inspectors in.
But most of Iran's nuclear program is deep underground, and much of its product could be easily shifted. This all or nothing approach too, does not sit well in the diplomatic community, where the standard is that you offer some concession, however minute, in exchange for what you demand.
But even Rouhani's efforts could not redirect Iran's politics or the view the outside world holds of this country held in the icy grip of the theocratic rulers. The supreme imam, the ayatollah himself, has come into the fray with his own message. Ali Khamenei in fact, criticized his own president, by him handpicked, as is every presidential candiate, for being probably too lenient.
What Khamenei is reprimanding his president for, is his telephone conversation to his US' counterpart. Khamenei does not want to change the long held hardline of distrust against the US. It's almost as if Rouhani's phone call has made Iran lose face, for trusting a country so untrustworthy as the US, in his words.
Khamenei also took pains to reiterate his vitriolic hatred of the US-Israel alliance, which basically reaffirms Ahmadinejad's position.
Although true that Israel's prime minister did in some way redirect the US' position on the matter, any change in policy that is influenced by Israel is considered a flip flop on the part of the US.
For his part, Israel's prime minister, in a typical tit for tat, reasserted his position that if needed, Israel would tackle Iran on its own. That in a sense, is almost expected, since in the arab-israeli world, not showing strength will only engender disrespect.
It seems that Rouhani's efforts have so far been almost fruitless, if not misguided. His intention to have all sanctions lifted, which was transparent, nearly backfired. Although it is true that the sanctions are harming the Iranian economy, his approach was not only disingenuous but futile.
Op-Ed
Partial Source : France 24/ 10.5.13
But this bag of tricks has already been tried by Iran, and not too many are convinced. It is too obvious, this attempt at reconnecting with the west, and not so subtle either. In fact Rouhani very bluntly has said that 'if' the sanctions are lifted, in toto, then they will come to the table to negotiate the nuclear program and 'possibly' allow the nuclear inspectors in.
But most of Iran's nuclear program is deep underground, and much of its product could be easily shifted. This all or nothing approach too, does not sit well in the diplomatic community, where the standard is that you offer some concession, however minute, in exchange for what you demand.
But even Rouhani's efforts could not redirect Iran's politics or the view the outside world holds of this country held in the icy grip of the theocratic rulers. The supreme imam, the ayatollah himself, has come into the fray with his own message. Ali Khamenei in fact, criticized his own president, by him handpicked, as is every presidential candiate, for being probably too lenient.
What Khamenei is reprimanding his president for, is his telephone conversation to his US' counterpart. Khamenei does not want to change the long held hardline of distrust against the US. It's almost as if Rouhani's phone call has made Iran lose face, for trusting a country so untrustworthy as the US, in his words.
Khamenei also took pains to reiterate his vitriolic hatred of the US-Israel alliance, which basically reaffirms Ahmadinejad's position.
Although true that Israel's prime minister did in some way redirect the US' position on the matter, any change in policy that is influenced by Israel is considered a flip flop on the part of the US.
For his part, Israel's prime minister, in a typical tit for tat, reasserted his position that if needed, Israel would tackle Iran on its own. That in a sense, is almost expected, since in the arab-israeli world, not showing strength will only engender disrespect.
It seems that Rouhani's efforts have so far been almost fruitless, if not misguided. His intention to have all sanctions lifted, which was transparent, nearly backfired. Although it is true that the sanctions are harming the Iranian economy, his approach was not only disingenuous but futile.
Op-Ed
Partial Source : France 24/ 10.5.13
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