Kharazi on Relations with the US

Rooz Online: a "reformist" website

Last week at the Donyaye Eghtesad (World of Economy) we were the host to former president Khatami’s foreign policy architect. A man we now miss in the cabinet. He was our guest for two hours, but did not allow us to interview him. So when we turned our tape-recorders off, he became relaxed and opened up, and expressed his views on Iran’s nuclear issues, foreign policy, cooperation with Russia, Iran’s negotiations team at the nuclear talks with the Europeans, etc. But the most important things he said were about relations with the US. Read on.

When we asked “What do you think about the government’s strategy at the nuclear talks”, he said: READ MORE

“The recent events were not political games and gimmicks. And this has increased Iran’s risk, while confusing the Europeans. But I am not very optimistic about its continuation. I do not think its continuation is in our interest. Unfortunately, contrary to established international practice, they completely changed the composition of the team and replaced it with a team which needs experience. The departure of Mr. Zariff, who was a known entity in the diplomatic world, was not a good step either. Our foreign counterparts like working with professionals in the field.”

Regarding Iran’s new approach to relations with Eastern countries Kharazi had some strong opinions. “We should really not be looking at the East or West, but only at our national interests. While other countries are tied to this, we don’t seem to be committed to it. History has shown that in the world of diplomacy, no country is reliable. Countries pursue their own interests. When a state makes a promise at bilateral talks and then changes its position on a specified day, it only confirms that they are pursing their own national interest. Apparently, India was supposed to back us for a permanent seat at the Security Council and defend us on the nuclear issue. But better offers from the US and Canada changed its mind. This is a lesson that other countries too, Russia or China, may do the same thing and at some point prefer to pursue their own national interests rather than ours.”

On a larger issue of the government and its foreign policy, Kharazi said that one must take into account that here are other individuals outside the government who are sensitive to foreign policy issues as well.

“A good case in point is our relations with the US. These sensitivities create conditions under which nothing is or can be done. There are two views on this issue: one supports relations with the US, the other opposes. The first argues that the current situation is not in our short-term national interest. What the supporters of this view present is worth thinking about. We suffer because of the sanctions on us under the current circumstances. The latter believes that it is more important to look at Iran’s long-term rather than short-term interests. During my days as Foreign Minister, I noticed that both Khatami and Rafsanjani, both former president’s now, were in favor or normalizing relations with the US, in view of US response of course. During the Clinton period, the US pursued a policy of normalizing relations with us too, and even changed in how they addressed us. A big change has taken place and today Bush behaves completely differently towards us. We doubt seriously that this approach will thaw the ice between the two countries. As a professional, I think the arguments of the supporters and opponents of relations with the US each have their own merit, which cannot be ignored.”

When we asked him whether the ideologues in Iran wished to establish relations with the US, he said, “The ice that separates normalization between Iran and the US is so thick that no single faction can break it. A breakthrough requires something larger than the factions. The gap between the US and Iran is now so wide that it is really not a privilege to be the group to break the ice, because Iranian public opinion views the US as satanic. The whole issue is such a taboo that it appears almost impossible to break it.”

On Iran’s assets with the US, he said, “it appears that what we are talking about is about $2.5 billion of our claims, which with its interest could add up to about $8 billion. The US seems to move in the direction of allowing its former hostages in Iran to sue us and pay them damages from our assets. We in turn reciprocated and created similar files against them. The difference is that they hold our assets, while we have nothing of theirs. While it is some times stated that if the US returns our assets, Iran would reciprocate to establish relations with it. This appears to be valid, except that the US will never do this. In conclusion, under the current circumstances with the hardliners in power in the US and the current views in Iran, it is doubtful that there will be relations between the two.” “US hardliners do not exercise flexibility, while in Iran too there is no will to establish relations with it. The US will never reach an understanding with the current Iran because we too are not flexible and do not like to hear that we have changed.”

He went on “There is another reality in this regard too which is the product of September 11, 2001. Let’s not forget that Iran is part of the Islamic world. You can be sure that they are not in favor of strengthening Iran’s government. The people of these very countries, however, view Iran as an independent country that has the power to say ‘No’ to a great power.”

I asked Dr Kharazi about the composition of Iran’s current negotiation’s team for the nuclear issue and how successful it had been in promoting our national interests. “It is still too early to make a final judgment on this,” he said. But one can make some conclusions by assessing recent events.”

On money laundering Kharazi said “We at the Ministry have emphasized that passing legislature against laundering helps make our economic relations with other countries more transparent. Having transparent and efficient customs agencies can also help in the growth of our international economic links. Iran is a transit route for illegal narcotics, which also entails an arms trade. So this type of money laundering is thriving in the region. So we must legislature to combat this as soon as possible.

Kharazi came to Donyaye Eghtesad with his 24 year old son who is an economics student in New York.