He (Obama) insulted the Islamic Republic of Iran from the first day. If you are right that change has come, where is that change? What is the sign of that change? Make it clear for us what has changed? (Ayatollah Ali Khameini in response to President Obama’s message to Iran)

Have you released Iranian assets? Have you lifted oppressive sanctions? Have you given up mudslinging and making accusations against the great Iranian nation and its officials? (Ayatollah Ali Khameini)


Following up on his promise to talk to Iran without any preconditions, President Obama opened up by sending a political feeler to Iran on its New Year’s Day (Nau Roz). Although there was no visible change in political posturing, the message itself was of great historical importance in the last 30 years. President Bush as other presidents also had refused to talk to Iran without preconditions.

Iranian response to President Obama’s initiative is cold and critical (for plausible reasons). They claim that nothing has practically changed in the U.S. hostile attitude towards Iran. The U.S. State Department still calls Iran a sponsor of terrorism for its support of the militant Hezbollah and Hamas. And then there still is the “axis of evil.� But Iran’s response doesn’t completely shut the door for opening a new relationship with the U.S. The Iranian leaders know that there is much more than What Obama said in his message. According to P. Strobel (Despite Iran’s tepid response, experts hail Obama approach, McClatchy Newspapers, http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/v-print/story/64536.html), “While White House and State Department officials are loathe to discuss details, the administration is considering loosening restrictions on direct contacts with Iranian diplomats and asking Iran’s OK to establish a U.S. diplomatic post for the first time in 30 years.�

In the context of the Middle East political muddle, President Obama can not simply write off Iran because it has become central to any political development in the region. It is more important than any or arguably all the Arab states. It is on the verge of becoming a nuclear power; at present Israel is the only nuclear power in the Middle East. If Iran becomes a nuclear power, it will substantially change the political calculus of the Middle East. Although the U.S. and Israel have vowed to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power at all costs, it is becoming more and more improbable for them to bomb Iran out of existence. Every day that goes by adds to the strength of Iran. In spite of of Iran’s theocratic leadership, the Iranian leaders have shown a great restraint in their actions and reactions. They don’t want to tip the boat. And yet, they have exhibited undue strength in not being cowed down by the recurrent threats from the U.S. and Israel.

President Obama realizes that the U.S. will have to find a political compromise with Iran because any overly aggressive action will either be non-effective and non-productive but also quite dangerous in the long run. Viewed in this perspective, opening the talks at the highest level with Iran seems to be a better approach. Iran also realizes that it is pitted against the strongest power of the world and that it can not get away with every thing that it desires. A military confrontation with the Western World will not be in its best interest.

President Obama’s overture hasn’t produced and is unlikely to produce any immediate constructive results as demonstrated by Iran’s response, but if it opens up a door for continued political discussions, both sides might find a middle ground with which they can live peacefully. There is no hope that President Obama or any other American president for that matter, will cease to support Israel as demanded by Iran and it can also be argued against that Iran will take any direct military action against Israel even if it becomes a nuclear power. Iran’s president Ahmadinejad’s rhetoric is only for public consumption. A political stalemate between Iran and the U.S. is more dangerous than an Iran which can be brought to the table for political discussions. Political values are not absolute as religious values are; they are relative and change with the passage of time.

Let us wait and see how the situation unravels. Let us see how President Obama tackles Iran in his next move. He will surely be patient and give time for his first overture to play out.