Iran and the future of the Islamic Awakening

Iran paper urges for opening dialogue with various Arab political groups.

BBC Monitoring International Reports | December 29, 2012 | Copyright

Text of commentary by Seyyed Mohammad Eslami headlined: "Iran and the future of the Islamic Awakening" by Iranian newspaper Khorasan on 20 December.

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It was translated by BBC Monitoring

You can find the main text in persian at BORDERLESS

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These days we have entered the third year since the start of Islamic awakening in the region. During the two eventful years that we have put behind, many pairs of eyes have been focused on North Africa and the Middle East. Now that we enter the third year of this tempest, it seems that we must once again review the tools of foreign policy in this respect.

The countries of Islamic awakening in the transition period

The first issue in confronting the events and developments of Islamic awakening countries is to pay attention to the characteristics of the "transition period." In other words, the only thing that will be "fixed" with regard to these countries is "constant change." Therefore, it is better for us in Iran to be neither happy over a sympathetic breeze nor to be scared of an opposing wind. Pragmatism, the ability to show quick and calculated reactions, flexibility, and patience until results are achieved, are the requirements of Iran's foreign policy in dealing with the stormy sea of Islamic awakening.

Islamic awakening and the issue of knowledge

Many of us in Iran did not expect such events to happen in the region, and for conditions to come about so that there would be no reports of Hosni Mubarak's loyalty to Israel and Qadhafi's camels and tents. We did not expect a time when Syria would be involved in Al-Qa'ida's unending violence and for certain countries' geographical borders to be exposed to reviews. In any case, the past is past. Today, we must achieve an accurate and quick knowledge of determining characteristics in each of these countries. However, knowledge and efforts to establish relationships with influential "individuals" in these countries must not prevent us from establishing a relationship with various "groups." Being occupied with groups that have been formed during the transition period must not make us overlook "newly emerged figures" that may change the rules of the game. Forming ties with newly established parties, members of parliaments, judges, academic figures, influential businessman, and ... [as published] must be realized more than ever before, taking into account the requirements of every country. This is particularly applicable in view of the fact that today's losers in the elections of the transition period, may one day turn into the winners of the period of stability in these countries. In addition, although Islamist groups are undoubtedly the priority of Iran's foreign policy, knowledge and connection with groups that do not fit into this circle, have as much importance.

Let us respect the reality and independent identity of groups

Among the most important issues in interaction with individuals, groups, and countries that are assuming fresh identities, is respect for their independent identity. We must therefore accept that in view of the special circumstances they find themselves in, they have the right to make remarks that may not necessarily be in coordination with all aspects of Iran's foreign policy. In certain cases, we must even allow these groups to act on decisions, the wrongness of which they may come to realize in the future. It must be emphasized that in many cases they may share our views but may be limited by circumstances whereby they are unable or consider it inexpedient to reveal these issues. An examination of the intelligent behavior shown by the revolution's leader [Khamene'i] in interacting with Hamas and various Egyptian groups, can be useful in this respect.

Economy; behind the scenes of political developments

All the revolutionary groups that came to power through Islamic awakening are facing a test and a challenge of "efficiency." Western countries and the United States are now putting these tools to good use to influence the political and social trends in these countries; a trend that will become more extensive and deeper in the future. Today, the effects of the West's undue economic influence on developments in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Tunisia, and Syria is evident in every single one of these countries. Therefore, we must also activate the unofficial tools of foreign policy in this respect in Iran. The private sector, which has an open hand and is free from the official restrictions that exist for the foreign policy apparatus, can play a serious role in developing Iran's ties with these countries. The idea of providing "services and training" in return for "goods", attracting Muslim tourists, and other such examples, can also help the organization of these countries after terrible revolutions and can also provide a way for Iran to counteract the West's policy of banking sanctions against Iran.

Expansion of ways of two-sided communication with the communities of Islamic awakening countries

One of the reasons for the "domino like" chain of revolutions in the region's countries, is their common language, culture, and problems. The expansion of international people based organizations, and improvements to the quality and quantity of Arab and English-speaking international media will help us eliminate the intermediary role played by Western media between the Iranian society and the Islamic awakening communities.

Looking to the future with regard to the options of joining the train of Islamic awakening

We are now in a position where we can predict future events, albeit inaccurately. Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Sudan are countries that may join this train in the third year of Islamic awakening. Therefore, any kind of investment or policymaking on our part in these countries must be carried out by taking into account the positive or negative consequences of probable changes in these countries.

Source: Khorasan, Mashad, in Persian 20 Dec 12

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"Why Did America Support the Opposition's New Coalition?

BBC Monitoring International Reports | December 14, 2012

Text of commentary by Seyyed Mohammad Eslami headlined: "Why Did America Support the Opposition's New Coalition?" published by Iranian newspaper Khorasan on 13 December

Yesterday, Barack Obama, the US president personally announced that he has finally officially recognized the opposition coalition. But the acceptance of this new coalition by the United States took more than a month; a coalition that was formed in Doha by force and at the insistence of the Americans and even the arrangement of this coalition has been carried out according to the United States' taste.

US fear of Islamists in Syria

The "National Coalition for Syrian Revolution" was formed in Prague against the "Opposition National Council" some time after the unpredictable opinions expressed by Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state. After almost one year of communication with this council, the Americans reached the conclusion that they cannot provide the future that would be desired by Washington. The national council's weakness was lack of sufficient influence over the domestic opposition in Syria and the armed groups in particular. But in the final days of the life of this council, the United States gradually revealed that there is another reason concealed behind this decision. Their criticism of the national council was that it was too much under the influence of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood. Since the beginning of this crisis until the present day, the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood has never issued an official statement or communique under its official title or at least such statements have never appeared in the media. But this group's history shows that the foundation stone for the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood is armed activity; groups that hold jihadist and in certain cases even anti-Zionist beliefs. By appointing a Christian leader, the Syrian National Council tried to deny that it was under the influence of the Syrian Brotherhood but this had no result. Consequently, in its very first step, the United States completely limited the Syrian National Council, which for them was synonymous with the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, and over the last few days, by creating a new military council, they have marginalized the Syrian Free Army and general Riad Al-Asaad.

Efforts by the opposition coalition for adaptation to Western values

Ahmad Maaz Al-Khatib, the head of the Doha coalition, is referred to as the former group Imam of the Umavi Mosque in Damascus. However, there are two other influential individuals within the leadership structure of this coalition, who have been paid less attention. Riad Saif, Mr Al-Khatib's first deputy, is a former member of the Syrian parliament and one of the country's liberals. Mrs Suhair Atassi, his second deputy, is one of the figures active in the field of women's rights in the Middle East. These two individuals, in addition to others who are in the opposition coalition organization, constitute guarantees that the Syrian government opposition has given to its Western allies to prove their commitment to pro-Western values and policies. Yesterday, only hours after Obama's interview with ABC, and during the summit in Marakesh, Ahmad Maaz, the head of the coalition emphasized his commitment to "diversity" and at the same time condemned "excommunicating" actions. In other words, Maaz announced his adherence to his political allies and Western beliefs and his exoneration from armed extremist groups that are also opposed to the United States.

If a comparison is carried out between Egypt's current conditions and the US scenario for the transfer of power in Syria, it would appear that the Americans do not wish to be stung in the same place twice. The Syrian Brotherhood's outlook is Salafi and although the Americans may have benefited in the short term from trusting them in the past, in the long-term, they have had to endure heavy costs. Therefore, from now on, we must wait for the new opposition coalition in Syria to squander more and more of their beliefs in order to attract Western support. The new US plan faces an important obstacle and that is the armed Salafi opposition, who are against the new coalition and the main arena of conflict against the Syrian government is currently under their control.

Source: Khorasan, Mashad, in Persian 13 Dec 12

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