In swift developments, pregnant with possibilities, Iran’s newly-elected moderate leader Hassan Rouhani has launched a veritable charm offensive in a clear bid engage with the United States and reset a relationship steeped in decades of hostility – and crippling American sanctions in recent times.
A day after his interview to an American television network, disavowing a nuclear push, President Rouhani on Friday made his case to the American leadership that it’s time to engage.
“We must work together to end the unhealthy rivalries and interferences that fuel violence and drive us apart,” he noted in an op-ed piece in The Washington Post.
The US-Iran postures are of great significance to India and other countries of the region. A lot is at stake especially for India, given the fact that it is a large importer of Iranian oil, an aspect that has not gone down well among US lawmakers. Any makeover, or even moves toward it, could lower the American pressures on New Delhi relating to its trade ties with Tehran.
“As I depart for New York for the opening of the UN General Assembly, I urge my counterparts to seize the opportunity presented by Iran’s recent election,” Rouhani wrote in the Post, adding: “I urge them to make the most of the mandate for prudent engagement that my people have given me and to respond genuinely to my Government’s efforts to engage in constructive dialogue.”
Rouhani’s unexpected diplomatic push, a far cry from the sabre-rattling of his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has clearly put the ball in Obama’s court. The buzz right now is whether the two leaders will use their presence in New York to hold a bilateral meeting.
The White House has broadly welcomed the comments, but has taken the stand that there are no plans “currently” for an Obama-Rouhani meeting.
Spokesman Jay Carney said it has been Obama’s position since he was a candidate for the high office that, as president, he would be willing to have bilateral negotiations with the Iranians if they were serious about giving up their nuclear weapons programme.
“It’s fair to say that the President believes there is an opportunity for diplomacy when it comes to the issues that have presented challenges to the United States and our allies with regards to Iran, and we hope that the Iranian government takes advantage of this opportunity,” Carney said.
On Rouhani’s assertion that Iran will never seek the nuclear bomb, Carney acknowledged indications of “a new approach” from the new government, but said: “We are interested in testing the seriousness of those assertions.”
John Kerry stressed on “Rouhani’s comments as very positive, but everything needs to be put to the test, and we’ll see where we go.”