‘Ties Worsen between United States and Iran’

Two major UAE English dailies today commented on the worsening ties between the United States and Iran since the beginning of the Islamic revolution in the latter, believing that it will do good for both countries and the Middle East at large to patch up their differences.

Commenting on the issue under the title "Iran, US: Blow Hot, Blow Cold!", the Dubai-based "Khaleej Times" said: "The world has changed a great deal since the Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979. However, little has changed in the US-Iran relations, once staunch allies and friends. They continue to let their troubled past dictate their present and the future at a great cost to the two countries, their people and the Middle East at large.

"The US-Iran relations have gone from bad to worse under the Bush administration, totally controlled as it has been by the hardliners. The constant neocon rhetoric of attacking Iran and taking out its nuclear programme has only added to the tensions between Washington and Teheran.

"On the other hand, the rise of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran and his hawkish posturing on Israel and the US hasn't helped the cause of peace and healthier relations between the two countries either. The relations have been held hostage by the hardliners on both sides.

"The fact that Washington and Teheran snapped all ties after the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and do not currently have any diplomatic relations whatsoever has only widened the gulf of mistrust and animosity between the former allies. Now US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the Bush administration is still committed to the idea of opening a diplomatic outpost in Teheran, an idea floated by the administration some months ago.

"But what is the meaning and significance of such claims when we all know that this administration will be out of the White House in less than two months? Unless of course Ms Rice and his boss in the White House are hoping to make up for the lost time making dramatic progress in the last few weeks in office. Whatever the explanation, this administration and its successor that will take over soon would do well to reach out to Iran in the larger interests of the US and the Middle East peace. The initiative has to come from the US because Teheran for all its tough talk has been rather keen to bury the past and move on." Also commenting on the same issue under the title "US mission in Iran a good idea", the "Gulf News" said: "The idea, floated once again by Condoleezza Rice, of the United States opening a diplomatic mission in Iran would be the right step at the right time.

"The move would certainly ease the rising tension in the region and could eventually help unblock major issues in the Middle East such as the Iran nuclear dossier and the ongoing trouble in Iraq.

"Within this context, Gulf states have always called for a diplomatic dialogue between the US and Iran. The last GCC summit, which the Iranian president attended, appealed for both Washington and Tehran to solve their disputes diplomatically.

"It is of course late for the Bush administration to engage Iran and get the hoped-for results. But any move in this direction will certainly pave the way for the next administration to use words and not bombs in dealing with those burning issues.

"Iran, meanwhile, should be transparent in its dealings with the international community, particularly in relation to its nuclear programme.

"Tehran should not make the mistake of perceiving the US move, if and when it materialises, as a victory of its confrontational policy.

"It should regard the move as a chance to spare the Gulf region yet another conflict."

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