ID :
49839
Tue, 03/10/2009 - 12:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/49839
The shortlink copeid
US must take first move to restore Iran ties: Analyst
London, March 9, IRNA -- Washington has to take the first “meaningful and dramatic” moves in order to jump-start relations with the Islamic Republic, a UK-based Iranian political analyst said on Monday.
Bijan Zhand Shakibi told IRNA that any move to restore US-Iran relations in the near future should include security guarantees and lessening the sanctions regime placed on Iran by the UN under the US pressure.
“Iran should not be expected to make the first dramatic moves given the former US administration's strengthening of distrust between the countries,” said Zhand Shakibi, who is a fellow at the prestigous London School of Economics and Political Sciences.
He said that Iran is quite correct when it states that President Barack Obama should change the tone of US rhetoric with regard to Iran into “meaningful action”.
“I am sceptical however that the US will make any dramatic moves. US domestic political considerations and the geo-political situation in the Middle East play a significant role in the US inability to make dramatic moves in regard to Iran,” he suggested.
Shakibi, who is a lecturer in government studies at the university, said the new US administration is pursuing the goals of former president George W Bush although Obama’s “change in rhetoric is more constructive than the disastrous policy of Bush”.
“In other words, Obama has, at least so far, changed the rhetoric of US foreign policy in regard to the Islamic Republic of Iran, but has not changed its substance,” he said.
But the change in the US tone, he said, is geared more to strengthening relations with Europe and Russia to consolidate a coalition against Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme and its geo-political interests.
“I support the view that the US and Iran, if and when they sit down, will talk in regard to issues, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and the deteriorating situation in Pakistan, and probably work together to bring stability to these areas," the Iranian academic said.
He believed that the US and Iran would find "common ground" on such issues, while the issue of Iran's nuclear programme was likely to remain unresolved at least in the near future./end
Bijan Zhand Shakibi told IRNA that any move to restore US-Iran relations in the near future should include security guarantees and lessening the sanctions regime placed on Iran by the UN under the US pressure.
“Iran should not be expected to make the first dramatic moves given the former US administration's strengthening of distrust between the countries,” said Zhand Shakibi, who is a fellow at the prestigous London School of Economics and Political Sciences.
He said that Iran is quite correct when it states that President Barack Obama should change the tone of US rhetoric with regard to Iran into “meaningful action”.
“I am sceptical however that the US will make any dramatic moves. US domestic political considerations and the geo-political situation in the Middle East play a significant role in the US inability to make dramatic moves in regard to Iran,” he suggested.
Shakibi, who is a lecturer in government studies at the university, said the new US administration is pursuing the goals of former president George W Bush although Obama’s “change in rhetoric is more constructive than the disastrous policy of Bush”.
“In other words, Obama has, at least so far, changed the rhetoric of US foreign policy in regard to the Islamic Republic of Iran, but has not changed its substance,” he said.
But the change in the US tone, he said, is geared more to strengthening relations with Europe and Russia to consolidate a coalition against Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme and its geo-political interests.
“I support the view that the US and Iran, if and when they sit down, will talk in regard to issues, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and the deteriorating situation in Pakistan, and probably work together to bring stability to these areas," the Iranian academic said.
He believed that the US and Iran would find "common ground" on such issues, while the issue of Iran's nuclear programme was likely to remain unresolved at least in the near future./end
