Iran Looks for Meaningful Negotiations with the US

Negotiation is meaningful when the two sides negotiate with good will, equality and without any intention to deceive the other side.

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(TEHRAN, Iran) - Joseph Bidden, the US Vice president, announced that we are ready for direct negotiations and the ball is in Iran court. A few days later on Feb. 7^th Ayatollah Khamenaei announced that the ball is in the US court and the US should look for a meaningful negotiations. His speeches on Feb. 7^th was mainly interpreted as “No” to negotiation with the US and his new speech on March 21^st as a shift in his approach toward the US. As he said in the last remarks, he is not against bilateral negotiations. Reviewing the main text of his speeches demonstrate that for him “How” to negotiate is more important. In those speeches, he has reviewed the past experiences and concluded that Iran dose not trust the US. In his speech on February 7^th, he says:

• “The ball is in your court because you are the one who should answer that whether talking about negotiations and at the same time continuation of pressures and threats are essentially meaningful?

• Negotiation is to prove good intention. You are doing many things out of bad intention. How dose Iranian nation believe in your goodwill? Dose crippling sanctions against Iranian nation is a sign of good will or bad will?

Then he reminds everyone about the past occasions and says “During the past 60 years the US has not fulfilled any of its promises.” He then reviews the Iranian experience with Obama administration and says:

Four years ago the US proposed negotiations. We emphasized that we do not make prejudgment and wait to see their actions. But during these four years we did not see anything except continuation of conspiracies, supporting riots, and supporting terror of Iranian scientist,

The US undermined those who trusted the US in numerous occasions both before and after the revolution. Naturally he dose not want to repeat the past. However, he dose not want to remain in the past, too. That’s why he says “Iran has always judged the US words according to the US Behavior.” Then he defines acceptable and meaningful negotiations and it proves that he believes in meaningful negotiations with the US. According to him:

• Negotiation is meaningful when the two sides negotiate with good will, equality and without any intention to deceive the other side.
• I’m a revolutionary and talk frankly and sincerely: Negotiation proposal is meaningful when the other side demonstrates its good will. Negotiation and coercion are not compatible and Iranian nation will not submit to that.
• It is not possible that the Iranian nation negotiate under threat and pressure with those who are threatening them and putting them under pressure.

He has clearly defined criteria and redlines for bilateral negotiations. According to him reestablishing the US hegemony is the redline for Iranian nation. “If any one wants to establish the US hegemony in this country, the nation will prevent that.” Then he defines the main principles that should be preserved in any negotiation with the US. “All officials should preserve national interests, national independence and national dignity.” If he did not believe in negotiations it was not necessary to go into these details.

Finally, he shows direction to future prospect by saying that: “With those countries that did not have and do not have conspiracies against our country, we negotiated, made contract, and established relationship. Our nation is peaceful, patient and our national unity is in the service of humanity.”

In his speech on Feb 16th he clarifies the issue more. First he defines the US as an irrational player because of contradictions in its words and deeds in different fields including human rights, democracy and proliferation. And then says:

“Contrary to them we are rational. Our officials and people are rational. If they stop coercion, irrational behaviors and words, interference in internal affairs of Iran and respect Iran’s rights, they will find Islamic republic well-wisher (and benevolent). The US should prove its good intention. If there is no evil activity, no intervention, no coercion and they respect the rights of Iranian nation, Iran will give appropriate answer.”

These are exactly the issues that have been and will be raised in any negotiation with the US. As it is clear from the above mentioned points, the issue is how to negotiate and under what conditions. He rightly defines Iran as a rational player and rational player do not refrain from meaningful negotiations, if possible. It is clear that Iran has suffered from the US past and present behaviors and the US should prepare appropriate conditions and atmosphere for meaning negotiations. Ayatollah Khamenaei provides a good opportunity for the US to demonstrate its sincerity and goodwill. He emphasize on Iranian peaceful intention to use nuclear technology and says:

“If we wanted to make Nuclear Weapons, the US could never prevent us from doing so. The US could not prevent India, Pakistan and North Korea “We do not want to make nuclear weapons because of our own belief not the US discontent.” “Nuclear weapons are a crime against humanity and should not be produced.” All nuclear weapons in the world should be abolished.

It is impossible that a political and religious leader call production of nuclear weapons as a crime against humanity and at the same time look for producing it. If the US and EU do not believe him and do not take his position seriously, they will not believe in anything and look for regime change in Iran. Ayatollah Khamenai adds:

“The discussion is not on nuclear weapons but on Iranian inalienable rights to access peaceful nuclear technology. The US will not be able to prevent Iran from realizing its rights.”

In his last remarks on March 21^st he announced that he is not against negotiations. It is an important step forward. If the US looks for meaningful negotiations, the US officials should refrain from taking hostile actions against Iran and accept Iran’s legitimate rights according to NPT. The US can begin sending good-will signals by putting aside old sticks that are neither legal, nor effective. Most of the US sanctions are symbolic and make no change in the balance of power. However, they can crack in the old wall of mistrust that prevents Iran from taking more steps forward.