Iran

Obama victory offers high hopes for US-Iranian relations

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad congratulated Barack Obama on his presidential election win --- the first time an Iranian leader has exchanged any such words to an elected US president since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The United States and Iran have had no formal diplomatic relations since 1979 and their current relations remain very tense. To Ahmadinejad, Obama is expected to redirect the foreign policies of George W. Bush to “an approach based on justice and respect, as well as lack of intervention in the affairs of others.” Despite Obama’s openness to direct diplomacy with Iranian leaders, his team has made it clear that they are not going to be soft on Iran. Nonetheless, any diplomacy is better than no diplomacy.

Obama’s victory in the election has fostered hope for change not only in America but all around the world. Iran, a notorious enemy of America, is very accepting of Obama’s win and Iranian President Ahmadinejad went so far as to congratulate him. While the United States and Iran have virtually had no diplomatic relations in close to thirty years, Obama’s victory may foster more negotiations and better relations between these two conflicting states. Ahmadinejad said the world expects changes from Obama and he is expecting these changes to particularly influence foreign policy in the Middle East. The ordinary people of Iran are also excited about Obama’s victory because many of them long for a reconciliation with the United States and an end to their international isolationism. With these attitudes in place, Iran and the United States could potentially put their differences aside and work together. With more direct communication and successful negotiations, Iran and the United States could even becomes trading partners. Iran’s isolationism would perhaps end and they would be more open to trade, which would in turn lock them into peace because of the interdependence between them and their trading partners. Negotiations for Iran and the United States are definitely a step in the right direction. The fact that Obama is open to peace talks and Iran actually welcomes him is extremely significant for international relations as a whole, particularly pertaining to relations within the Middle East.

Liberal

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225910055725&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7714426.stm

November 7, 2008 at 01:21 am