The Teheran – Washington axis. A new beginning?

The fact that the United States and Iran are “at odds” for more than three decades is no longer a surprise to anyone. That the two states could end up helping each other in alleviating the conflict in Iraq is a likely scenario and even desirable for regional stability. Haleh Esfandiari, the coordinator of the “Middle East” program at Wilson Institute, speaks about the possible turnover in the relationship between Iran and the US, in the light of recent events.

Iraq and Syria – Iran’s satellites in the region
Geographically, the only way out of Iran is through the southwest, across the borderline with Iraq.

It is understandable, therefore, that neither Iran wants a hostile Iraq, especially under the control of Sunni-inspired terrorist groups, just as Baghdad has no interest in a whirl and tense relation with Tehran.

Moreover, taking advantage of the vacuum power left by Saddam Hussein and U.S. intervention, the government in Tehran has turned into a fierce supporter of Shiites who had been persecuted by the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Husein.  

Subsequently, Iran’s relations with the government in Baghdad closer nowadays,determining the authorities from Teheran to express their support in a counter-offensive against the organization ISIS.

Iran interests also collide ISIS in Syria, where Iran encouraged the Alawite regime (derived from Shi `ism) of Bashar- al-Assad who, with the help of Iranians, proved to be a driven supporter of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Moreover, in terms of foreign policy, the U.S. turned its attention to the “Pacific pivot” (per se, the concept refers to a displacement of the strategic interest of the United States in the Iraq-Afghanistan towards the Pacific where U.S. allies, particularly Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Malaysia are threatened by the growing hegemony of China), leaving the Middle East region in a looming instability, confronted with a long term struggle for control in the area.

Iran is certainly one of the states that will play a key role in the new reconfiguration of the balance of power in the region.

 
Iran – U.S. allies in need. Friends with mutual benefit on the long-term

For years, Iran was considered an enemy of the United States, the climax being the during President’s George W. Bush term, with his famous “axis of evil”, making Iran accountant for supporting terrorism. Which is, by the way, partly true. For example, in Syria, Iran helped the Alawite regime of Bashar al-Assad, viewed by the West as being corrupt and undemocratic.One man’s terrorism is the others fight for liberation!, someone said once.

Nonetheless, relations between the U.S. and Iran, over the last 30 years,  have been extremely tense, recalling here a few milestones such as the American hostage crisis of 1979 and the downing of a commercial iranian airliner in 1988 by the USS Vincennes, causing the death of 290 people.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran started to deepen with the talks over the Iranian nuclear program.

Ms. Esfandiari, coordinator of the “Middle East” program at the Wilson Institute, exclusively told Q Magazine that there is a strong possibility for the relation between the two countries to become closer, up to long-term cooperation, on account of the crisis in Iraq.

“Iran and the U.S. have served as enemies for at least three decades. There was, however, brief moments of cooperation, given the common interests such as the overthrow of the Taliban in Afghanistan”, says the analyst.

According to her, if it would reach a consensus on the negotiations on Teheran’s nuclear program could then be addressed and other matters affecting the relations between the two countries.

Indeed, despite all differences, the U.S. and Iran are engaged in a diplomatic dialogue more intense than it used to be in the past. Moreover, Iran may prove to be not just the “bogeyman” of the Middle East, if taken into account that it has become more tolerant, especially in terms of religion belief. Probably, one of the most tolerant countries in the Middle East, from this point of view, if we come to think of.
For example, Jews have dozens of synagogues in Iran, Christians have the Patriarchate and churches, and the President has the right to just two terms, having a parliament with representatives composed of all the ethnic minorities.

Thus, compared to other regimes in the region, the government in Tehran, especially the election of Hassan Rohani, showed a significant opening towards reform. If he continues in the same manner, the Washington-Tehran axis could mark the beginning of a very prosperous friendship between the two states.