As Tehran flays the US for its duplicitous policy in the campaign against terrorism, it is certain that Iran — a close partner of Iraq and Syria — will emerge a major player in the fight against the ISIS now or later
As United States is steering the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), it has also entered into a wider regional conflict with countries like Iran and Syria. The US has requested regional countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, for their cooperation in the fight against the ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
After the formation of US-led coalition against ISIS, Iran flayed the western states, especially the US, for pursuing a duplicitous policy in the campaign against terrorism in various countries. Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali larijani strongly criticised the US-led coalition forces’ intention. On October 14, he said that the coalition is not able to dismantle the ISIS because the plan declared by US President Barack Obama to destroy the terrorist group is just a joke.
On September 4-5, NATO heads of state meeting, convened in the Welsh city of Newport, discussed a broad strategy to defeat and destroy the ISIS. The NATO members were later joined by a number of Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Turkey, in a meeting in Paris days later to form the anti-ISIS coalition.
The conundrum is why Iran is unwilling to join the allied forces against the ISIS. There are several reasons. First, Iran has no confidence in the US-led coalition. The intention of the United States is fuzzy and many of the coalition members have and still are rendering military, financial and logistical support to the ISIS and several other terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria. Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the anti-ISIS coalition is just an excuse for the US to exercise its plots in the West Asian region. Khamenei slammed the West, especially the US, for creating Takfiri terrorists, and said that the main objective of the ISIS is to create differences among Muslim sects. Khamenei underlined that the US is pursuing the ISIS to provide the Zionist state safety and security through inciting conflict among Muslims. In July, Khamenei called on Muslims across the world to set aside their differences and utilise all their resources to support the Palestinian people. He also asked Muslim countries for the formation of a united, powerful and capable Ummah. Iran and its allies Hezbollah also accuse the West alleging that the US helped the ISIS in the begining assuming that it could exploit the militia to challenge Iran and regional countries; subsequently leading to new order in the regional structure. The West made abortive bid to oust the Bashar al-Assad’s Government with the help of the ISIS.
Second, Iran blames the US coalition for not taking prior approvals from Syria and Iraqi governments for airstrikes on ISIS on their soil. Iranian officials also underlined that Tehran considers any external military action in Syria, which had not been demanded by the Damascus Government, as unacceptable and interference in thier sovereignty. Iran believes in the name of fighting terrorism, the West cannot justify violation of sovereignty and integrity of any country.
Third, Iran asserted that the coalition led by the US is a gambit to find a new occupation plot aimed at securing Washington’s own interests in the region. The US’ main aims in Syria is to oust Assad’s Government and dominate the region.
Fourth, Iran could not join the coalition forces against the ISIS due to internal dynamics of the country. Conservatives and hardliners will not allow a rapprochement with the West, especially with the US. They did not soak up the interim nuclear deal with P5 + 1 and are still sceptical about a final agreement with the West. Even during the Mohammad Khatami presidency, conservatives did not allow him reconciliation with the US. In an interview with CNN on January 7, 1998, Khatami made it clear that his goal was to improve Iran’s relations with the US through a “dialogue of civilisations.”
He also argued that “making enemies is not a skill; real skill lies in the ability to neutralise enemies... And, this is not incompatible with our principles.” Khatami’s interview to CNN was not received well by the conservative groups back home. Conservatives led the charge by claiming that the US was seeking to “bring about instability and insecurity to the nation.” Conservative groups held that a dialogue with America was even more harmful than establishing ties with that country. Furthermore, in order to stop Khatami from implementing his moderate policy, conservative groups pressed the Guardian Council and the Supreme leader of the country to set up a new consultative institution to advise him on foreign policy issues.
No doubt any attempt to bring Iran and the US closer is always difficult for the leaders from both sides.
However, Obama and the new Iranian administration are working hard to resolve Iran’s nuclear issue. After the election of a moderate president Hassan Rouhani, Iran succeeded in an interim nuclear deal with the West and talks are still on to reach a final agreement.
The way ahead
The West, especially the US, and Iran, have been gamboling around the ISIS since the US-led coalition airstrikes started in Iraq and Syria. In the latest moves by the West, the US did not include Iran in the coalition forces against the ISIS nor sought any support from Iran.
In September, US Secretary of State John Kerry said inviting Iran to the Paris meetings would “not be appropriate, given the many other issues that are on the table with respect to their engagement in Syria and elsewhere.”
Inviting Iran to join hands with the group of Sunni countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is replete with dangers. In response to Kerry’s statement, Khamenei said that listening to the US regarding the ISIS is “really amusing”. He also added that not inviting Iran in a coalition against the ISIS is a “source of pride, not a source of disappointment.”
However, Iran has made it clear that it had already refused an earlier offer by the US to cooperate with the allied forces in the fight against the ISIS. But it is also noteworthy to mention here that Iraqi President Fouad Massoum supported Iran’s participation in the Paris conference. He showed his dissatisfaction over Iran being left out of the meeting. The US did not invite Iran to join the coalition against the ISIS because Tehran continues to support Assad’s regime and maintains its influence on Iraqi Shia leaders.
If the conflict between the West, especially with the US and Iran broadens, it could be difficult for the coalition forces to successfully fight against the ISIS inside Syria because Tehran is a close friend of Bashar al-Assad. Whether the US likes it or not, Iran — a close partner of Iraq and Syria — would be a major player in the fight against the ISIS now or later. Though the present development in the West Asia region in general and Iraq in particular provides opportunities for both the countries, the US and Iran must take advantage of the situation and cooperate in the fight against the ruthless Islamist group.
(The writer is Associate Fellow, West Asia Centre, IDSA, New Delhi. Views expressed here are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of IDSA)