Unclenching Fist in Iran and Syria

In an interesting development, the White House has sought to distance itself from reports that some advisers to President Barack Obama had held ‘discreet’ talks with ‘very, very top’ Syrian and Iranian officials during his transition.

In fact, some of those talks were reportedly held even before Obama’s election on November 4.

The talks were held with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in Damascus and included Ellen Laipson, a former White House adviser and a member of the Obama transition team. That meeting took place as recently as January 11.

More important, some nuclear non-proliferation experts have had contacts in the last few months with top Iranian leadership. Now the White House spokesperson insists Obama had made it clear to his team of advisers that there would be no contacts with foreign governments. This however does not change the fact that the incoming president had indeed initiated or 
sanctioned engagement with Teheran and Damascus.

In fact, we see no reason why the Obama administration should get defensive about establishing direct contacts with the two countries that have been at loggerheads with the US for the past several years. The US friction with these two countries has dangerously destabilised the entire neighbourhood. As if the US didn’t have enough problems with Iran, the Bush administration managed to alienate Syria, forcing it into the welcoming arms of the Iranians. This policy had not been inspired by the US national interest but under pressure from Israel. Which is why all Syrian efforts to patch up with Washington ran into a blind wall. The hostility to Iran was also largely driven by the Israeli factor, rather than by mutual US-Iran interests.

Which is why President Obama should be taking credit for his efforts to reach out to estranged allies and adversaries like Syria and Iran, rather than be apologetic about this whole business. As argued in this space before, dialogue and diplomacy are the way to resolve Iran’s nuclear issue. Clearly, President Obama believes in this approach too. Hence his willingness to talk to ‘anybody’ and bold invitation to Teheran to unclench its fist.

Of course, the US engagement with Iran and Syria and restoration of normal relations does not have to be at the expense of Washington’s other important allies in the region — like the Arabs and Israelis. Because healthy relations 
between Washington and Teheran — and 
Syria — will be in the interest of the stability of the whole region.