Home >> Middle East >> Iran

     Email   Print 

Iranian Leader's Israel Comments Stun World

Bhuwan Thapaliya - 11/5/2005

In the short run, Iran's hardliners are hoping for a national coalition by playing the "Israel card" since Iran's bureaucracy has a record of bullying Western countries into cold-shouldering Israel, but such attitudes visibly show how hard it will be for Iran to build cross-border alliances in the long run.

Hence, for all the evident barriers on either side of the Atlantic, there is not much doubt that international cooperation against Iran will increase and would put Iran's ultra-conservative regime under immense pressure.


The Crisis

By refusing to acknowledge the state of Israel's right to exist, Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has revived an age-old Islamic revolutionary rhetorical swipe at Israel by echoing the late Ayatollah Khomeini's call for "Israel to be wiped off the map".

This nevertheless has raised serious doubts that Iran's policy towards Israel and the Western World could be undergoing a drastic change; given a background that Iran's relationship with the European powerhouses had improved significantly during the past eight years of President Mohammad Khatami's judicious style of government.

"The relationship was further cemented when Khatami gesticulated on the non-interference of Tehran in the Israeli matter, if Palestinians could find a way to co-exist with Israel," according to the foreign affairs experts.


World's Response

Meanwhile, the relation is shrinking now as the confrontation is escalating ever since the new ultra-conservative government headed by Ahmadinejad took the center stage of the Iranian politics in early August.

The president's comments on Oct. 26 provoked outrage worldwide. Most Muslim and Arab capitals have remained silent on the remarks. Nevertheless a few have spoken out, including Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, who told the BBC News Web site that Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist.

"What we need to be talking about is adding the state of Palestine to the map and not wiping Israel from the map," Erekat said.

"Egypt also rejected the Iranian remarks while Turkey's prime minister called on the Iranian president 'to display political moderation,'" according to media reports.

Tony Blair, ending a one-day European Union summit at Hampton Court in London yesterday, called the explosive declaration a disgrace and stated further that, "I have never come across a situation in which the president of a country has said they want to wipe out another country. That is unacceptable."

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said he was "dismayed" by the Iranian leader's comments while Russia suggested the affair would deepen the row over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The White House said the Iranian remark showed the U.S. was right to be concerned about Iran's nuclear program and the E.U. leaders meeting in London issued a joint condemnation "in the strongest terms" following statements of concern from individual members of the 25-state body.


President's Defense

But amidst this global row and furors, the Iranian president refused to be intimidated. In a massive rally organized each year in Tehran to show solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, Ahmadinejad said: "My words were the Iranian nation's words," in an effort to rally his "political existence."

"Westerners are free to comment, but their reactions are invalid," Ahmadinejad told the official Irna news agency. Iran has dismissed the international furor as a means of pressing Iran to compromise on its nuclear program.


Nuclear Dilemma

Nonetheless, according to the observers, this aggressive comment by Iran's president is a perfect opportunity for the United States to reinforce the argument that Iran's word on its nuclear intentions perhaps should not be taken lightly, as the United States, now joined by Europe, has raised fears that Iran's supposedly peaceful nuclear program might be a front to try to develop secret nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, according to the neutral observers, "Iran is not the only country trying to build nuclear weapons. Nor is it the only country to worry about the strength of America's soaring global domination, and a possible threat from it."

Nevertheless, Iran has always protested its innocence and insisted that it has taken its international obligations concerning nuclear power seriously. It is insecurity, directly felt by the ultra-conservative government, that explains why Iran is one of the nations where defense spending has risen.

But in September, the United Nation's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, declared Iran was in non-compliance with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and gave Iran until its next meeting at the end of November to show it was prepared to co-operate more fully.


Fear of Isolation Looms

Even though unborn, the possible threat of sanctions against the Iran is already shaking up the global politics like nothing has done for years.

There are possible chances that Iran could become increasingly isolated under this new ultra-conservative government. Israel has already decided to open a broad diplomatic offense.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom meanwhile said Israel would call for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council.

The Security Council could consider a range of options that includes economic sanctions.


Future of Iran

Iran's diplomats, who fancy themselves engaged in the pursuit of diplomacy by other means, were recently shocked by the direct vocal condemnation of Israel by their president. However, this has given them sleepless nights because they just can't stop from pondering if such ambition be taken seriously.

Nevertheless, the future of Iran hinges on the needle of its diplomacy. What should be done? The government of Iran must do all they can to ensure international communities that their regime is not a menace to the external world.

A great nation like Iran shouldn't spend its time scapegoating other nations, but lead the world with its ancient wisdom and prevent global confrontation for the betterment of the humanity for a while.