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The Influence of USA-Iran Rapprochement On Regional Issues
Lragir.am
Comments - 16 August 2014, 22:00
Faced with the recently aggressive pressures of Russia, the
social-political elite of Armenia set to observe the capacities of
Iran-USA cooperation on the Iraqi issue with renewed hope. Putin
obviously has no enthusiasm to let Armenia into the Eurasian Union
(EAU) since the physical presence of the Republic of Armenia in the
EAU will have a negative impact on Putin's plans on further
integration of Slavonic and Turkic nations. It is conspicuous that
after the failure of the Chinese scenario the Kremlin is trying to
attract the Azerbaijani government, planning to bring Turkey onto its
anti-Western orbit. Official Ankara is not always satisfied with NATO
and the US from the political point of view, Turkey occasionally
attempts to implement a policy that is irrelevant to the US regional
policy.
Amid the thaw between the US and Iran, Russia is obviously concerned
about possible cooperation with former rivals. Furthermore, the
political interests of Iran and the US positively match with each
other in order to retain the security and predictability in Iraq.
Therefore, Moscow realizes that the possibilities of future strategic
rapprochement between Tehran and Washington on a common problem over
ISIL insurrection in Iraq may lead to overwhelming counteraction on
energy and geopolitical spheres.
Traditionally, Iran and Russia have had conflicts over the past 200
years for influence on the Caspian region, and nowadays as well there
are innumerable controversies between Tehran and Moscow. Specifically,
the scandal over the deal of S300 rockets and the issue of division of
the Caspian Sea is just some of the contradictions between these
powers. Iran shows its concerns about Russia's new policy, which
evidently may open up the way for cooperation between Tehran and
Washington not only in the Iraqi aspect but also against Russia's
intensions to impact the Middle East and Central Asia.
Basically, the anti-terror policy of the United States in Asia during
the last two decades included a number of beneficial steps for Iran,
if we forget for a minute the policy of sanctions against Tehran.
First of all, the Taliban movement in Afghanistan was the main threat
for Iran at the end of 1990. Taliban had a considerably aggressive
attitude towards the Islamic regime of Iran, so the efforts of the US
eliminated those threats.
Secondly, we have to take into consideration the fact that Saddam
Hussein's Iraq was the traditional rival of the Islamic Republic or
Iran with its desires to create a definitely strong Sunni government.
In addition, Iran and Hussein's Iraq had the experience of the bloody
conflict in 1980-1988. Consequently, the policy of the US against
Saddam Hussein gradually solved this threat for Iran as well with the
decision to form the Shia government of Al Maliki with its
specifically pro-Iranian political and spiritual orientation.
Therefore, there is an assumption that the projections of the US in
Iraq are mostly acceptable for Tehran and there are reasons why the
Iranian authorities, like the US government, reacted so aggressively
to the ISIS insurrection. Iraq may stand as a good platform for
political and strategic rapprochement between Tehran and Washington
because their understandings of security and stability in Iraq are
similar. Even in Moscow on July 7 the newly-appointed Iranian
Ambassador Mehdi Sanahi announced in his interview with the Russian
media that the United States rather than Russia is seen a possible
partner over the Iraqi issue. Thus, the willingness of Iran for
positive relations with the US in different aspects of global policy
is already being demonstrated.
This cooperation can be the tangible precursor of containment of
Russia's influence on the Caucasus and Central Asia in the nearest
future. The new Iranian policy as a partner of the West worries Russia
because it functions as a crucial instrument for the implementation of
the energy and military political chain of Iran-Armenia-Georgia which
may have an important role as a reliable corridor of prevention of
Russian influence on the region and hinder the capacity of strategic
and economic rapprochement of Turkey and Russia. Simultaneously,
Iran's restricted but elaborate policy on the Caucasian political
arena, in unison with the Western interests, may contain Russia's
intensifying interference in the affairs of the Caucasian states.
Otherwise, the Armenian political and military elite are encouraged by
the achievement of the US-Iran rapport that will noticeably fortify
the independence of and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia.
Inevitably, the prospects of the US-Iran rapprochement will raise the
political, strategic, military and economic importance of Georgia and
Armenia. These Caucasian states will actively perform and protect the
new project of oil pipeline from Iran bypassing Russia.
Along with the important function of Turkey as a traditional ally of
the US and NATO, the Islamic Republic of Iran could have played an
equally essential role in strengthening global security. In this
respect, we have to take into account a number of factors, such as
considerable modernization of the Iranian elite, the intelligentsia,
the traditional yearning for the European and American cultures, the
dominant role of Iran in the Shiite world, extensive borders and
neighborhood of important regions, the readiness of Iran to solve
local and regional issues of security together with the West,
tolerance towards different religions and regional communities, also
the aspiration of Iran to introduce new technologies in both military
and civil spheres. The Iranian society needs to understand the terms
of national security of their country, and the Western community could
have sent a message of its readiness to share the burden of solution
of issues of regional security conjointly with Iran.
Importantly, the foreign policy of Iran is distinguished with its
intentions to carry out much more defensive issues than implements
offensive policy which is appeared in the purposes of some neighbor
states.
The participation of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a regional and
strategic partner of United States, in many ways, will change the
geopolitical image of Eurasian continent. Iran suffers from necessity
to export its energetic raw resources. In case of appealing offers
from the US, there is an assumption that Tehran will embrace the
opportunity to collaborate with the West. Iran, like the US, is
interested in the integrity and stability of Iraq. Needless to say
that Tehran is going to increase its contribution to the Iraqi
government but there is a backup plan in case of inevitable
dissolution of its southwestern neighbor.
Generally, Iran is interested in partnership with the West, not only
about the Middle East problems but also about Central Asian, South
Asian and Black Sea and Caspian regional issues. Nowadays, a number of
US experts and analysts consider that long-term solutions for issues
in the mentioned regions are impossible without close cooperation with
Iran. Apparently, these prospects may be realistic only after the
unappealable and acceptable solution of the Iranian nuclear program.
- See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/32850#sthash.KJV1NhOn.dpuf
From: A. Papazian
Lragir.am
Comments - 16 August 2014, 22:00
Faced with the recently aggressive pressures of Russia, the
social-political elite of Armenia set to observe the capacities of
Iran-USA cooperation on the Iraqi issue with renewed hope. Putin
obviously has no enthusiasm to let Armenia into the Eurasian Union
(EAU) since the physical presence of the Republic of Armenia in the
EAU will have a negative impact on Putin's plans on further
integration of Slavonic and Turkic nations. It is conspicuous that
after the failure of the Chinese scenario the Kremlin is trying to
attract the Azerbaijani government, planning to bring Turkey onto its
anti-Western orbit. Official Ankara is not always satisfied with NATO
and the US from the political point of view, Turkey occasionally
attempts to implement a policy that is irrelevant to the US regional
policy.
Amid the thaw between the US and Iran, Russia is obviously concerned
about possible cooperation with former rivals. Furthermore, the
political interests of Iran and the US positively match with each
other in order to retain the security and predictability in Iraq.
Therefore, Moscow realizes that the possibilities of future strategic
rapprochement between Tehran and Washington on a common problem over
ISIL insurrection in Iraq may lead to overwhelming counteraction on
energy and geopolitical spheres.
Traditionally, Iran and Russia have had conflicts over the past 200
years for influence on the Caspian region, and nowadays as well there
are innumerable controversies between Tehran and Moscow. Specifically,
the scandal over the deal of S300 rockets and the issue of division of
the Caspian Sea is just some of the contradictions between these
powers. Iran shows its concerns about Russia's new policy, which
evidently may open up the way for cooperation between Tehran and
Washington not only in the Iraqi aspect but also against Russia's
intensions to impact the Middle East and Central Asia.
Basically, the anti-terror policy of the United States in Asia during
the last two decades included a number of beneficial steps for Iran,
if we forget for a minute the policy of sanctions against Tehran.
First of all, the Taliban movement in Afghanistan was the main threat
for Iran at the end of 1990. Taliban had a considerably aggressive
attitude towards the Islamic regime of Iran, so the efforts of the US
eliminated those threats.
Secondly, we have to take into consideration the fact that Saddam
Hussein's Iraq was the traditional rival of the Islamic Republic or
Iran with its desires to create a definitely strong Sunni government.
In addition, Iran and Hussein's Iraq had the experience of the bloody
conflict in 1980-1988. Consequently, the policy of the US against
Saddam Hussein gradually solved this threat for Iran as well with the
decision to form the Shia government of Al Maliki with its
specifically pro-Iranian political and spiritual orientation.
Therefore, there is an assumption that the projections of the US in
Iraq are mostly acceptable for Tehran and there are reasons why the
Iranian authorities, like the US government, reacted so aggressively
to the ISIS insurrection. Iraq may stand as a good platform for
political and strategic rapprochement between Tehran and Washington
because their understandings of security and stability in Iraq are
similar. Even in Moscow on July 7 the newly-appointed Iranian
Ambassador Mehdi Sanahi announced in his interview with the Russian
media that the United States rather than Russia is seen a possible
partner over the Iraqi issue. Thus, the willingness of Iran for
positive relations with the US in different aspects of global policy
is already being demonstrated.
This cooperation can be the tangible precursor of containment of
Russia's influence on the Caucasus and Central Asia in the nearest
future. The new Iranian policy as a partner of the West worries Russia
because it functions as a crucial instrument for the implementation of
the energy and military political chain of Iran-Armenia-Georgia which
may have an important role as a reliable corridor of prevention of
Russian influence on the region and hinder the capacity of strategic
and economic rapprochement of Turkey and Russia. Simultaneously,
Iran's restricted but elaborate policy on the Caucasian political
arena, in unison with the Western interests, may contain Russia's
intensifying interference in the affairs of the Caucasian states.
Otherwise, the Armenian political and military elite are encouraged by
the achievement of the US-Iran rapport that will noticeably fortify
the independence of and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia.
Inevitably, the prospects of the US-Iran rapprochement will raise the
political, strategic, military and economic importance of Georgia and
Armenia. These Caucasian states will actively perform and protect the
new project of oil pipeline from Iran bypassing Russia.
Along with the important function of Turkey as a traditional ally of
the US and NATO, the Islamic Republic of Iran could have played an
equally essential role in strengthening global security. In this
respect, we have to take into account a number of factors, such as
considerable modernization of the Iranian elite, the intelligentsia,
the traditional yearning for the European and American cultures, the
dominant role of Iran in the Shiite world, extensive borders and
neighborhood of important regions, the readiness of Iran to solve
local and regional issues of security together with the West,
tolerance towards different religions and regional communities, also
the aspiration of Iran to introduce new technologies in both military
and civil spheres. The Iranian society needs to understand the terms
of national security of their country, and the Western community could
have sent a message of its readiness to share the burden of solution
of issues of regional security conjointly with Iran.
Importantly, the foreign policy of Iran is distinguished with its
intentions to carry out much more defensive issues than implements
offensive policy which is appeared in the purposes of some neighbor
states.
The participation of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a regional and
strategic partner of United States, in many ways, will change the
geopolitical image of Eurasian continent. Iran suffers from necessity
to export its energetic raw resources. In case of appealing offers
from the US, there is an assumption that Tehran will embrace the
opportunity to collaborate with the West. Iran, like the US, is
interested in the integrity and stability of Iraq. Needless to say
that Tehran is going to increase its contribution to the Iraqi
government but there is a backup plan in case of inevitable
dissolution of its southwestern neighbor.
Generally, Iran is interested in partnership with the West, not only
about the Middle East problems but also about Central Asian, South
Asian and Black Sea and Caspian regional issues. Nowadays, a number of
US experts and analysts consider that long-term solutions for issues
in the mentioned regions are impossible without close cooperation with
Iran. Apparently, these prospects may be realistic only after the
unappealable and acceptable solution of the Iranian nuclear program.
- See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/32850#sthash.KJV1NhOn.dpuf
From: A. Papazian