The following are excerpts of an exclusive interview Rooz had with Azadeh Kian, a professor of political sociology at the University of Paris. She said that Obama’s messages regarding Iran speak of a change in US policy towards Iran which Iranian officials should take seriously. Read on for the details.
Rooz: What is your assessment of President Obama’s Nowruz message to the Iranian people and leaders?
Azadeh Kian (Kian): Barrack Obama’s Nowruz message to Iran indicates a change in US foreign policy towards the Middle and particularly Iran. In his message, Obama again reiterated his campaign promises and spoke to the Iranian people and leaders through the language of peace and respect, in contrast to former President George Bush’s war-mongering remarks. This is an important change in direction. Some in Iran have said that Obama has still not done anything and that a change in tone and language does not change anything. But I believe that messages and talks in themselves had a power that can change many things. This was a very thoughtful message. After Obama’s message, US Secretary of State Ms Clinton too spoke of Iran’s help. All of these indicate a change in US foreign policy. But it is still not clear how Iranian leaders can utilize this change in their relations with the US.
Rooz: Why are Iranian leaders hesitant in their response to such messages?
Kian: A regime which has for the past thirty years screamed death to America and whose central political ideology has been antagonism against the US cannot easily accept to sit with the US at the negotiations table. This can be viewed as a turn-around of its main slogan during the last thirty years. On the other hand, the remarks of Iranian officials are for domestic purposes. What they are saying is that we are not willing to talk only with the US and do not wish to trample on our principles. The fact is that if Iran seriously cooperates with the US over Afghanistan, this can be viewed as a green light from Tehran to the US that it is interested in relations with the latter, no matter what it is called. Iran is gradually recognizing that it cannot continue to deal with the new US administration the way it dealt with George Bush.
Rooz: In Prague, President Obama spoke of efforts to curtail the spread of nuclear weapons around the world and that the US and Russia would be part of that effort. What are the repercussions of such an initiative on Iran?
Kian: If the proposal goes through, then there will be serious consequences for countries such as Iran and Korea. Obama is pursuing a multi-track policy. The first part is unconditional talks and the second is not allowing Iran to continue its nuclear policy program in order to deny it the capability to develop nuclear weapons. Until now, Iran has counted on Russia on this. But we notice that the US has changed its tone with Russia as well and has proposed that it would suspend the deployment of its anti-ballistic defense project in Europe if the threat from Iran was removed. If the US itself accepts the ban on the spread of nuclear weapons this would result in changes at international forums where Russia for example defended Iran’s policies. Such a change would result in less Russian support for Iran. So, if Iranian leaders are smart, they must take note that now is the time to once again raise the slogan of a nuclear-free Middle East. The Arab League too has been calling for such a goal. I think Obama will insist on unconditional talks with Iran but he will at the same time ask that Iran suspend its nuclear enrichment. The June elections in Iran too are crucial. They will continue to send positive messages to Iran until June and will attempt to win Iran’s cooperation on Iraq and Afghanistan until they see who emerges as the new president in Tehran.
Rooz: In recent days news agencies reported that US special envoy Richard Holbrooke had met with Iran’s deputy foreign minister Akhoondzadeh. Something Iranian officials later denied. What is the cause root of fear among Iranians to be seen next to American officials?
Kian: The representative of the French government at the Afghanistan and Pakistan talks confirmed seeing the two officials meeting. So a meeting has taken place and it happened in a positive atmosphere. But this is a dual policy that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been following for a long time. Through it, it sends a positive green light at the practical level, while to its domestic audience, it tries to show that no relations exist between the two countries. What is clear is that the two men met and I think this is a good development. The Americans need Iran in Afghanistan and Iran needs the US as well. The recognition that neither the US can leave Afghanistan or Iraq without Iran’s cooperation and that Iran cannot pursue its national interests without the cooperation of the US in the region and the world is an important issue and Iranian officials must realize that the Obama administration is an opportunity for them stress on these realities so that both sides can come to a closer common position.
