The Government May Begin Talks With the US

Iranian blogger, Soheyl Asefi, Rooz Online:

To learn about the views of the layered hardliners on Iran’s recent foreign policy issues, we decided to talk to cleric Dr Tey Hashemi who is considered a moderate among the Majlis (Parliament) hardliners. He is the deputy chairman of the Majlis’ committee on International, Legal and Majlis affairs, and also on the Cultural Heritage and Domestic Tourism committee. By training Hashemi is a physician who at one time ran the Entekhab newspaper and during the June presidential elections supported Hashemi Rafsanjani’s bid. On Iran’s foreign policy, he advocates an “active diplomacy” during the current sensitive period, talks of possible Bush-Ahmadinejad negotiations, and views the future with uncertainty. Here are the excerpts of the exclusive Rooz interview.

Q-During the June presidential elections in Iran when US President George Bush had intensified his pressures on Iran, in one of your interviews you said that Saddam Hussain too did not take the threats against him seriously. What did you mean?

A-I was refereeing to US policy in the region. We should not take it for granted that US policy is based on reason and rationalism. It is after its own national interest, which is only natural. During their invasion of Iraq they themselves confessed that oil was one of the reasons they decided to oust Saddam. One should not separate US foreign policy from its economic interests. All international events these days carry an economic dimension. The Americans will continue to pursue their national goals until they attain them.

Q-As an associate of the religious right in Iran, what do you propose Iran do?
A-There are more than just two options for us, i.e. surrender to the US or insist on our position and suffer the consequences.

Q-What is the third solution?
A-Active and extensive diplomacy.

Q-This is just a generality, what do you mean by the term?
A-We must engage to build international confidence, using the Iranian culture and civilization. Many people around the world are not familiar with our ancient culture. We must introduce the peace loving and people loving nature of Iranians to the world. As an example of the kind of things we could do is organize something like the Forgotten Empire exhibition that was displayed at the British Museum in London.

Q-President Ahmadinejad’s UN General Assembly speech has been interpreted to be confrontational. Before his elections, you had said that there was a possibility of a US strike against Iran. Do you still think so?
A-With the problems that the Americans currently face in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places I doubt they would launch a war against Iran. But if our diplomacy does not become active, then a lot of pressure will be applied on us.

Q-Was Ahmadinejad’s trip to New York to attend the UN General Assembly meeting in step with your idea of an active diplomacy?
A-The team that went to NY was very active, but this does not mean they were successful. Iran’s nuclear issue dominated all international attention. We have to wait and see what will the final decision on Iran. The president explained our position and also invited the international private sector to work on and monitor our nuclear programs and activities.

Q-But the other side completely ignored Iran’s proposal.
A-The proposal was a step towards confidence building. The issue was of honor for Iran. The West however has taken an unclear position on this and has left the issue in suspension.

Q-But why should the nuclear issue be seen as one of honor. Would a rational view not produce better results through which the government could step back from its position?
A-A rational perspective is not always necessarily a retreat in a position. We must strive to remove all the excuses that the US has in this regard.

Q-But how do we plan to remove the excuses?
A-In any case if we retreat from our position today, then our problems will be mani-fold. We must accept of course that the world is serious about nuclear issues. Even if the US’s policy towards Iran is not appropriate, the nuclear issue is a larger subject. This is an issue that the whole world is interested in. All states are concerned abut the spread of weapons of mass destruction, while our right to have nuclear energy remains intact. We have a right to the nuclear fuel cycle. The important thing is that the nuclear fuel cycle should not get into the unlawful domains.

Q-How would you guarantee that it won’t?
A-By remaining transparent and allowing the IAEA to inspect our nuclear facilities. We must enter into negotiations with other countries of the world on this and acquire their confidence and trust in us.

Q-How reasonable is it to depend on the Non Aligned Movement. During the last IAEA resolution only Venezuela voted against the resolution and in favor of Iran, but they did it for their own reasons, and not out of some love for Iran.
A-But the members of the Non Aligned Movement have been supporting Iran on its position. They well understand that if technical issues become politicized, then they too would face similar problems in their own domains. The majority is with us. The Americans too of course are very serious about their issues. We must see whose diplomacy will be more active.

Q-Some observers have said that the issue will go to the brink of a full conflict, while others believe the US may open a door for a dialogue with Iran.
A-In the realm of politics, nothing is impossible. Every government and state must act in its own national interest. There was a time when we had difficulty in our relations with our very neighbors, whereas now we have the best of relations with them. Iran has always had a dialogue with the US, which has never been direct. What you are suggesting is quite possible. It is possible that the new government here may become active to have a direct dialogue with the Americans, and begin talks with them. This is in no way against our religious principles. READ MORE