US Foreign Policy: Time for US-Iran détente

Last updated on: July 29, 2008 at 6:00 pm by Guest Contributor

US Foreign Policy: Time for US-Iran détente 2008-07-29T18:00:00-04:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

An unconditional meeting

For the past two years Iran and its nuclear program have dominated America’s foreign policy agenda. Iran’s refusal to stop enriching Uranium, which in its opinion it is entitled to as a signatory of the NPT treaty but the West believes, is an effort to develop nuclear weapons and the oft repeated statement by Ahmedinajad that “Israel will soon disappear from the map” have made Iran the number one enemy in the eyes of the West.

But now there seems to be a change taking place in US-Iranian relations and prospects for a détente seem real. Now not only is Ahmedinajad saying nice things about US diplomats, but Iran is responding positively to US overtures.

American failures in Iraq, in Afghanistan, on energy pricing, in housing and financial markets in addition to the weakening of the dollar, have handcuffed the Bush administration or else we would have surely witnessed a war against Iran. Lack of domestic appetite for another war which would surely shoot oil prices through the roof has removed the use of force option from the table. The Bush administration after asserting for years that we will not talk to Iran unless it agrees to all our demands is now engaging in direct negotiations. The decision to send William Burns, a very senior US Diplomat, to meet with Iranian nuclear negotiator along with Europeans last week, clearly signals a significant shift in US policy.

It remains to be seen however, whether this is an isolated episode or the beginning of a new modality in US-Iran relations. The talk that the US might even announce the opening of a US mission in Iran next month, which has already been welcomed by Iranians, is genuinely path breaking. If President Bush follows through, then there is no doubt in my mind that Iran could become an important partner of the US in shaping the emerging Middle East.

But before US and Iran can start normalizing relations, it is important that the mutual demonization that both sides have indulged in be deconstructed. Iran has been painting the US as a “Great Satan” and the source of all evil in the Middle East and the US has consistently labeled Iran as a terrorist sponsor and as a threat to global peace.

Reports from Iran clearly suggest that Iranians are alienated and disgusted with their own leadership and its failure to provide better governance and yo deliver on populist promises made in electoral speeches. Their resentment towards their leadership is manifesting in higher regard and esteem for the U.S. negating the anti-US rhetoric of some of its leaders. Azadeh Moaveni wrote in the Washington Post on June 1, 2008 “It might startle some Americans to realize that Iran has one of the most pro-American populations in the Middle East.”

Scholars of the Middle East have repeatedly pointed out this paradox of US foreign policy. The U.S. had become most hostile to the people who were most favorably disposed towards the US in the Middle East. It will take little to win the Iranians over. A gesture of friendship from Bush, a surprise visit to Tehran by Rice, or a gift of six passenger aircrafts, should be enough to send Ahmedinajad packing in the elections due in 2009.

While Iranians are becoming pro-US, Americans are becoming anti-Iran. In order that the US-Iranian détente flourish it is important that politicians and opinion makers stop demonizing Iran and recognize its positive contributions.

US intelligence agencies are convinced that Iran abandoned its efforts to acquire nukes in 2003 (National Intelligence Estimate, November 2007). Iran helped Western powers in establishing the new government and democracy in Afghanistan and has cooperated with the US to stabilize southern Iraq and restrain Shii militias in Iraq. While Ahmedinajad does rant about making Israel disappear, he is not in charge of Iranian foreign or military policy and his claims are not repeated by those who actually do manage Iran’s external affairs. A regular acknowledgement of these realities and positive Iranian contributions will help prepare American public opinion for better US-Iranian relations.

The perception that a nuclear Iran ruled by a madman poses a major threat to the world is the driving force behind Western paranoia about Iran. A sensible foreign policy from Washington is not possible until this misperception is deconstructed. Iran is not a threat; it is not capable of posing a serious threat.

Iran’s air force is defunct. Its economy is in a bad shape. High oil prices do not help Iran too much since it is a net importer of gasoline and its crude oil exports are inferior to its competitors. Add to this the fact that the U.S., France, Britain and Israel all have powerful air forces and huge stockpiles of nuclear weapons. Additionally Islamic Iran has not invaded any country for any reason since the revolution in 1979. A record that neither the US nor Israel can match given US’s unnecessary invasion of Iraq in 2003 and Israel’s overreaction in Lebanon in 2006.

Both Iran and the US now have an extraordinary opportunity to change their mutual destinies. Will they hold the line?

Dr. Muqtedar Khan is Director of Islamic Studies at the University of Delaware and Fellow of the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. His website can be found at www.ijtihad.org.

Commentary

Muqtedar Khan

Previous Post

July 27, 2008

Social Networking: Dialogue for the masses

Next Post

August 3, 2008 Interfaith: Finding sincerity in cross-religious dialogue

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2012 Elections 30 Dayd 30 Writers (2017) 30 Days 30 Writers 30 Days 30 Writers (2015) 30 Days 30 Writers (2016) 30 Days 30 Writers (2018) 30 Days 30 Writers 2017 Ali Asadullah Ali Eteraz Alper Bilgili Arthur Richards Asides Asma Uddin Black History Month Briefings Charles Turner Commentary Cyrus McGoldrick Eman H Aly Fatimah Popal Hajj Hajj and Dhul Hijjah Hesham Hassaballa Hisham Hellyer Ibrahim Abusharif Inas Younis Irfan Yusuf Jalal Baig Junaid Afeef Laila Alawa Laila Alwala Mas'ood Cajee Muqtedar Khan Nakia Jackson Newsmakers Parvez Ahmed Podcasts Rabia Chaudry Rafia Zakaria Ramadan Reviews Safiyyah Ally Saud Inam Shahed Amanullah Svend White The Opinionated Oncologist Visions Wajahat Ali Zahed Amanullah Zahir Janmohamed Zainab Khan

Select a Month November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who asked Jesus, "What is truth?"

Select your answer to see how you score.

Nicodemus Herod Pilate Caiaphas