History of the U.S. - Iran relations - Term Paper Example

?US-Iran Relations History of the Relationship The diplomatic relationship between the two countries were not established till 1857, and by 1930, thetwo countries had minimal but cordial contact. After the Second World War, since 1953, America was the strongest ally of the Shah of Iran. It is important to understand that Iran was undergoing tremendous internal political and social changes during the late nineteenth and twentieth century. It was hitherto a stable nation resistant to change. During this time, the foreign involvement of Britain and Russia signaled radical changes in the social and political systems of Iran. It was perhaps for this reason that Iran tried to improve diplomatic relations during this period with the US because of its anti-colonizing stance and its attractive foreign policy towards Third World Countries. The establishment of the American Diplomatic Mission in 1833 was a result of the increasing missionary presence in Tehran. It also sought financial expertise from the US in 1911 and 1925. In the early 1920’s, Reza Khan overthrew the ruling Ahmad Shah and the traditional Iranian system, both. He secularized Iranian politics and attempted to lay down the foundation of modern economy and infrastructure. However, he did not have the tools to bring about this radical transformation in the social as well as political systems organically; therefore: ‘Force became the method to achieve political and economic ends’. (Alikhani, 2000, p.6) In spite of this, Iran prospered under the rule of the new Shah and his son, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, who ascended the throne in 1941. At that time, western Iran had fallen under the control of Soviet Union and the United Kingdom. The Soviet troops had stationed themselves after the war and refused to leave the country. However, under the pressure of the UN and the US, in 1946, it withdrew its troops. The US continued its support to the Shah under the Kennedy administration that brought about tremendous economic growth, also known as the White Revolution, by exporting oil from the vast petroleum reserves of Iran, which at that time were the third largest in the world. However, the Iranian people were not happy and extreme poverty, particularly in the rural areas instigated hatred for the ruler of Iran and its ally, the US. It was believed that the Shah was an American agent and the huge American army deployed in Iran was not to defend the nation from external interventions; rather it was there to protect the Shah from his own people. It paved way for the Islamic Revolution in Iran and Imam Khomeini came into power. By then, people had had developed deep hatred for America for whatever evil had happened to their country during the past 25 years. So, the seeds had been planted long before November 1979, when the Shah of Iran was overthrown and Islamic Revolution in Iran was heralded. When the radical Muslim students of Tehran seized the US embassy and took the staff hostage in 1979; that proved to be the turning point in the US-Iran relationship. While the American diplomats were made hostage for 444 days, Khomeini availed this time in reforming the system of the government, and having done all such tasks like holding the presidential and parliamentary elections in Iran, which have been otherwise impossible. On the other hand, it destroyed whatsoever diplomatic relations the two countries had, and the US imposed economical and other sanctions on Iran. The punishment of Iran by the US continues even today. Since 1981, the Swiss government assumed representation of US interests in Tehran; while the embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC handles Iranian affairs in the Iranian Interests Section. The Islamic Republic of Iran also has a permanent mission to the United Nations in New York. Description of the Current Situation Since 2002, IAEA is striving to convince Iran to abide by the Non Nuclear Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement in order to ensure peace in the region. However, it continues to disregard the few agreements it has signed with IAEA. The United States has moved the United Nations to proclaim further sanctions against Iran. Yet, it has continued its efforts to make it comply with the resolutions of the UNSC. In June 2006, China, France, Germany, Russia, the United States, and United Kingdom offered Iran economic assistance, if it halted its Uranium-enrichment and processing activities. This offer was revised in 2008, but Iran has yet to positively reply to this offer. In 2009, the above mentioned countries met with Iranian delegation in Geneva, Switzerland. The US delegation also had a private meeting with the members of the Iranian delegation in which the US representatives stressed that Iran should abide by the non nuclear proliferation treaty and human rights policies. In Jan 2011, talks between the United States and Iran were held in Istanbul, Turkey but no resolution was reached. From time to time, UNSC calls on Iran to restore international confidence in its peaceful nuclear program, which is crucial to the safety of the entire region. Nature of the Problems including: Security in the Region The security in the region is threatened because a nuclear-Iran is a threat to all its neighboring countries including: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey, Soviet Union and the entire Gulf region. Iran is also accused of State-sponsored Terrorism, against Iraq. Under such circumstances, an unsafe nuclear program is a constant threat to the security in the Middle-East region. Nuclear Proliferation The most profound alarming fact regarding nuclear proliferation by Iran is that by not complying with the IAEA policies, a nuclear war can be triggered in the Middle Eastern region. Another possibility is the access of the extremist forces to Iran’s nuclear program, which can wreck havoc in the entire world. It is important to consider that the non-compliance of Iran regarding its nuclear status creates misbalance of nuclear forces in the region and the United States wishes to ensure peace and security in the entire world. Russia is also selling its military equipment to Iran, and this causes more concern for the US, as this is bound to bring about more destabilization in the region. Apart from human rights’ violations, and nuclear proliferation, and funding of terrorism in the name of Islamic Jihad; Iran has yet not recognized Israel- which accounts for its estranged diplomatic relations with the US. President Ahmadenijad President Ahmadenijad took office on August 6th, 2005. He is deemed to be a true representative of the Iranian people because he doesn’t have an aristocratic background- he belongs to the masses, and has had firsthand experience of the problems faced by the people of Iran over the decades. Regarding his background, he is born and brought up in a nation that has been taught to hate America. He is also patronized by Imam Khomeini, the supreme leader of the Council of Guardians of Iran. Though his economic policies have invited much criticism by the opposition and the urbanites, yet he enjoys the support of the poor. Unemployment and inflation are also on the rise in spite of the country’s oil exports. Ahmedinijad not only faces internal pressure by the opposition and the urbanites, but is subject to huge international pressure. His inflammatory speeches particularly against America and Israel; his conference on Holocaust; his connections with Anti-American figures like Venzuela’s Hugo Chavez are the major factors that infuriate the US; and such actions are impediment to the development of positive US-Iran relations. His economic policies and reforms are based on his nationalist approach with little consideration to foreign relations with other countries. This accounts for the drastic rise in inflation and unemployment. The opposition in Iran calls for the liberalization of economic policies but Ahmedinijad refuses to bow down to the internal or external pressures. Iranian Public The Iranian public is loosely bound as a nation because it is made up of several ethnic groups. The peoples of Iran are generally classified according to their languages. Persian and Turkish languages along with various dialects are predominantly spoken in Iran. Those that speak Persian or related dialects make up two-third of the total population. They are mostly urbanites; while some even live in the rural areas. Majority of the people depend upon agriculture to earn their livelihood. The Iranian public has gone through countless different and difficult times and phases; yet they have preserved their traditional social system to a great extent. As the majority of the people of Iran belong to the Shi’at sect of Islam- thus their political and social lives are dictated by their religion. It is also interesting to note that the people of Iran are not hardliners like their supreme or political leader. They are progressive in nature and have rich cultural background. They would welcome such social changes that could open up their creativity and economic conditions. For the past many years, young Iranians have participated in the international film festivals, and their work has been greatly admired. The civil society and women in particular are victimized by the strict policies of the government. Though the women in Iran are working in many spheres of life like education, medicine, government, NGOs, sports, police etc. yet they crave for more freedom and opportunities. According to some surveys, the Iranian public is not in favor of Iran’s nuclear program, as they have been hit hard by the sanctions imposed by the UN. The people of Iran wish for substantial economic reforms which could improve their lives. Solutions Both countries need to show more flexibility towards each other and in their diplomatic relations. The US government, in spite of imposing trade and military sanctions on Iran does not direct these sanctions to the people of Iran. According to the official website of the U.S. Department of State: ‘…there are a number of exemptions allowed by the U.S. Government intended to benefit the Iranian people. The following trade is permitted: licensed exports of U.S. agricultural and medical products to Iran, U.S. donations of articles intended to relieve human suffering in Iran (food, clothing, etc.), gifts valued at $100 or less, and trade in “informational” materials (films, publications, etc.),. Trade restrictions have been temporarily lifted in the past during humanitarian crises, such as the 2003 Bam earthquake, to allow for donations from American citizens and permit U.S.-based non-governmental organizations to assist with the relief and reconstruction efforts.’ (Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, 2011) Iran should understand that it cannot exist in isolation from the rest of the world. No country can rely solely on its own resources for ever. The global realities are changing rapidly; and Iran needs to be honest about its nuclear program with the IAEA. The US should also admit its negligence in the past that has resulted in the mistrust of the people of Iran that view the US as a tyrannical country that aims at building its supremacy over the entire world. As long as this image is alive in the minds of the people of Iran, US-Iran relations would remain the same. If the two countries reach a mutually beneficial agreement regarding their foreign policies towards each other, both can benefit in various ways. Iran is wary of the subjugation of America and it has its own reservations. The US must ensure the government and the people of Iran that it shall respect its sovereignty as a nation and would not interfere in the national affairs of Iran. This way, the US would be in a better way to make Iran comply with the obligations of IAEA and cooperate to ensure a peaceful nuclear program that is integral to the security of the entire region. A military intervention in Iran is not the solution to the current problems; Iran is not like Iraq and Afghanistan. In spite of its appalling human rights violations, its leadership would not do anything that could result in a nuclear war. Yet, it has to prove this on an international scale and bring into confidence IAEA and the UN. This way, sanctions against the US and UN might be uplifted, ensuring economic development for the peoples of Iran. If US-Iran relations are restored on diplomatic level, the US can regain an important political and strategic partner in the Middle East, in the form of Iran. The post-revolution era to date has been a time for hostile relationship between the two countries. This situation could have been avoided: ‘Implementation of genuine political reform up until 1977 might well have pre-empted the events of 1978-1979, and could have saved the United States from the precarious position in which it found itself after the revolution.’ (Steinmetz, p.66) References Alikhani, Hossein. (2000). Sanctioning Iran: Anatomy of a failed policy. London: I.B. Taurius & Co. Ltd. Steinmetz, Sara. (1994). Democratic transition and human rights:Perspectives on U.S. foreign policy. USA: State University of New York Press, Albany. U.S. Department of State, Diplomacy in Action. (Feb 17 2011). Background note: Iran. Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Retrieved from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5314.htm Read More