Comments 09:34 07/10/2013

No difference between Rohani and Ahmadinejad for Netanyahu

Netanyahu has once again displayed his enmity towards Iran. A large part of his speech at the UN General Assembly was about Iran and Hassan Rohani. He stated that Rohani must not be trusted, because Iran’s recent actions are meant to deceive. On the other hand, Obama, who intends to win the trust of the Israelis, announced after his meeting with Netanyahu that the military option against Iran is still on the table. Iran also reacted in return and Zarif even stated on his official Twitter account that President Obama needs to have consistency in order to promote bilateral trust. However, despite all the ups and downs and the efforts of the Zionist lobby, it seems that the two countries have made a strong decision and are fully determined to reach an agreement and resolve the issues and problems in the Middle East through cooperation. Iranian Diplomacy spoke with Dr. Assadollah Athari, a university professor and analyst of regional affairs, about Netanyahu’s speech at the UN and its effects on Obama’s decision-making.

- Netanyahu made a speech at the UN General Assembly and this time said that Ahmadinejad was a wolf in wolf’s clothing but Rohani is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. How would you assess Netanyahu’s statements compared with his previous statements during the past few years? Has there been any change in his positions after the coming to power of Rohani and his administration?

- Netanyahu authored a book in the 1990s entitled “A Place Under The Sun” wherein he considered Iran as the biggest threat for Israel and the free world. He had this view before he became prime minister and it seems that his thoughts have not deeply and fundamentally changed during the course of time.

Some Israeli analysts are similar to the Iranian analysts; for example, since the Islamic Republic of Iran has no friendship with the Zionist regime, if Netanyahu comes to power, or Ehud Barak or Sharon, Iran states that these governments are not righteous and views them as illegitimate. Or it is said that no matter what regime comes to power, due to certain characteristics, it cannot be trusted. Similarly, the Israelis share the same view on Iran stating that no matter whether Ahmadinejad is in power or Rohani or Khatami, such a government is fundamentally illegitimate and it makes no difference who comes to power. This is while each government has its own characteristics. For example, the viewpoint of Yitzhak Rabin with regard to the issue of Palestine was different from the views of Sharon and others, or the ideology of the Labor Party is different from that of Likud Party, as the views of Khatami and Rohani are completely different from those of Ahmadinejad.

Netanyahu has, hitherto, made great efforts and has been stating since ten years ago that the Iranians will achieve an atomic bomb within the next six months. This view has caused his radical cabinet to be maintained and it seems that Rohani and his team have made his task very difficult because they are acting diplomatically and wisely and do not let the Israelis take advantage of this situation.

- Netanyahu has, once again, talked about the intensification of sanctions against Iran as the best effective tool and has also threatened with a military attack. Are such statements credible considering the situation of today’s world especially the US’ flexibility with regard to Iran? Will these statements affect Iran-US relations?

- As it was reported, Obama had apparently talked with Netanyahu before his talks with Rohani and it seems that there has been some collaboration in this regard. Therefore, it must be said from this viewpoint that there is still collaboration between the Zionist regime and the US with regard to Iran. But the US tactics are different from them. Obama believes that he could reach his objectives by becoming close to Iran instead of distancing himself from it. For example, the Americans pursued the same path with regard to Cuba and Fidel Castro for about 50 years and right now it does not seem that they intend to pursue the same path and continuously increase sanctions.

The main US objective is for Iran’s nuclear program not to become militarized and the Iranians have, several times, stated that this is not their intention like South Korea or the agreements which Turkey has recently signed with Russia. Iran’s example is, in fact, similar to that of Japan that does not pursue military objectives and there is no need for military use of nuclear improvements. Therefore, nuclear capabilities are different from atomic war capabilities and the Iranians have chosen the Japanese model. Israel attempts to show that Iran’s nuclear program is moving towards military objectives.

In other words, the US imposed sanctions against Cuba for about 50 years and caused this country to move towards Russia, so why should this scenario be repeated now for Iran for Iran to become closer to Russia and Europe and more distant from the US? This policy is a failed policy based on which Iran would get closer to other countries for there are common interests between Iran and the US in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucasus, and in the Persian Gulf, thus the US tries not to lose Iran.

- Joe Biden has said that there is a moral bond between the US and Israel and if Israel did not exist in the region, we would have had to establish a country which would support US interests. The question is why should the US feel so indebted to Tel Aviv and what is this moral link?

- What they mean is the Jewish-Christian values or their defense of democracy and moral issues. But Joe Biden’s statements do not mean much in the Middle East. It means that when the Palestinians are killed by the Zionist regime, these moral values are not important for the Americans and move along the lines of Jewish values.

Israel and the US signed a strategic agreement in 1983. This agreement is more important to them than moral issues. Thus, it must be reiterated that what brings them closer to each other is their interests and such an agreement, as Obama has repeatedly stated that what is important for the US is Israel’s security. Hence, moral values are a cover for the strategic objectives of Tel Aviv and Washington.

- Iran, and particularly Mohammad Javad Zarif, has shown a strong reaction against Obama’s statements after his meeting with the Israeli official. Zarif had stated that if the US pursues the same path, the wall of mistrust would not be destroyed and that Netanyahu is a hated figure. What is your assessment of the views of the new administration in Iran and its future programs?

- I do not share the same view as Mohammad Javad Zarif in this regard. The reason is that as Rohani is under pressure in Iran by the opposition with regard to his interaction with the US, Obama is also under pressure by certain groups. This issue must be understood, particularly between two countries which have had numerous problems during the past 35 years. Therefore, it must not be thought that the Americans are retreating from their positions. Instead, the power circles and pressure groups and the military must be first analyzed in this country and then positions could be taken. But the outcome is that if the US acts contrary to its declared policy, which it would not, it will lose its status in the international community, thus, it will act according to what it has proposed.

- So you believe that despite all the problems and pressures exerted upon both the Rohani and Obama administrations, the differences between the two countries would be resolved?

- Right now, several issues are proposed. Some believe that the government of Iran is deceiving the Obama administration and some state that the Iranian government has been deceived by the US or this process was a tactical mistake in Iran. This is not heroic flexibility, but that rather the pressures caused by the sanctions have forced Iran to move in this direction …. The powerful pressure groups will use this situation to their advantage. The weight of these groups must be understood and that there are powerful groups in both countries which would prevent negotiations between Iran and the US from taking place.
 



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

12:23
Police raiding homes of Armenian opposition group members
The Armenian authorities are searching the homes of members and supporters of the opposition group National Democratic Pole as well as its...
11:47
Armenian leadership seeking rupture of ties with Russia, Lavrov says
The Armenian leadership is messing up relations with Moscow for no good reason, TASS quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as...
11:30
Today marks Good Friday
The week leading up to Easter or Holy Resurrection is called Holy Week (in Armenian Avak Shabat). During this period, the Armenian Apostolic...
11:15
Political prisoner Narek Samsonyan sends open letter-inquiry to U.S. ambassador
Chairman of Civic Consciousness NGO, founder of AntiFake.am media outlet, political prisoner Narek Samsonyan wrote an open letter-inquiry to...
11:00
ARF calls for consolidation to save Armenian statehood
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) Bureau issued the following statement on Thursday: "In recent weeks, Nikol...
17:12
She said yes: Marriage proposal at Hayat Project concert in Gyumri
A young man proposed to his beloved at a Hayat Project concert in Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city. In a video posted online, the...
16:45
Opposition MP slams Pashinyan's Artsakh statements
Opposition Hayastan faction MP Ishkhan Saghatelyan has expressed support to the Artsakh government in exile following Armenian Prime Minister...
16:04
MP Aghvan Vardanyan visits arrested activists
MP Aghvan Vardanyan, who represents the opposition Hayastan faction, on Thursday visited the Armavir Penitentiary where activists Vazgen...
15:36
Armenian opposition MP visits border villages
Opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan has visited the villages of Voskepar and Baghanis in Tavush Province adjacent to the border areas demanded by...
15:04
Ex-Yerevan mayor setting up new party
Former Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan is setting up a new party in the near future, his team has confirmed to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service....
14:36
Armenia to send 29.94 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza
Armenia will deliver 29.94 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza ravaged by the conflict with Israel. The decision was approved at a cabinet...
14:07
Expert: Pashinyan decided to terrorize Artsakh leaders
Political analyst Suren Surenyants has criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statements on Artsakh leaders at a cabinet meeting on...
13:35
Analyst: The West doesn't care about Armenia
The West wants Armenia and Azerbaijan to sign a peace treaty as soon as possible and Armenia's territorial losses do not matter to it,...
13:06
Moscow concerned over anti-Russian bias of Armenia-EU-US meeting
The Armenia-EU-US meeting scheduled for April 5 is causing Moscow’s concern as Washington and Brussels are openly discussing its...
12:37
Pashinyan: Some circles displaced from Karabakh take actions threatening Armenia's security
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warns that the actions taken by “some circles” forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)...
12:04
Artsakh dissolution decree was 'the only way' to save people, president says
President Samvel Shahramanyan claims his decree ordering the dissolution of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Republic was the “only...
11:30
Japanese supplement products recalled after two deaths and over 100 people hospitalized
Health supplement products believed to have caused two deaths and sickened more than 100 people have been ordered to be taken off store shelves...
11:15
Today is Holy Thursday
The week leading up to Easter or Holy Resurrection is called Holy Week (in Armenian Avak Shabat). During this period, the Armenian Apostolic...
11:00
Upcoming Armenia-US-EU meeting not directed against any third party – Foreign Ministry
The high-level meeting scheduled for April 5 in Brussels is aimed at strengthening Armenia-EU-US cooperation and is not directed against...
17:00
Azerbaijan's team opts out of Sambo World Cup in Yerevan
Azerbaijan's national team will not participate in the Sambo World Cup to be held in Yerevan, Armenia, Azerbaijani Sambo Federation official...
16:45
Biden calls Putin 'butcher'
US President Joe Biden has disparaged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for the second time in two months, publicly calling him a...
16:30
Armenian parliament speaker defends land handover to Azerbaijan
Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan has defended the plans to hand over border villages in Tavush Province to Azerbaijan. He...
16:04
Azerbaijan must create conditions for safe return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh, UK says
The UK government is clear that Azerbaijan must create the conditions for a safe and secure return of ethnic Armenians who were displaced from...
15:35
Photo campaign calls for release of political prisoners in Armenia
A photo campaign for the release of Armenian opposition activists has been launched in Yerevan. Photos of political prisoners Narek...
15:15
Arthur Abraham's father dies at 68
German-Armenian boxing star Arthur Abraham’s father, Grigor Abrahamyan, has died in Berlin at the age of 68. “We’re deeply...
15:00
Armenian MP warns of threats after possible land handover to Azerbaijan
Opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan has warned of threats to a number of settlements in Armenia amid Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s signaled...
14:31
EU mission hosts French ambassador to Armenia
The EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) on Wednesday hosted French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies and members of the French...
14:06
Azerbaijan opposes Armenia-EU-US conference
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has deplored the EU-Armenia-US joint conference scheduled for 5 April, warning that it will create...
13:36
Political prisoner Vazgen Saghatelyan slams Pashinyan in letter from prison
Political prisoner Vazgen Saghatelyan has blasted Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his regime for efforts to silence their critics in...
12:34
U.S. aims to encourage Armenia and Azerbaijan to bridge differences – State Dept.
The objective of the United States is to encourage Armenia and Azerbaijan to bridge their differences, U.S. State Department...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}