Region | Iran
Western interference 'could benefit conservatives'
The turmoil in Iran has created a controversial situation for the country and Western governments alike. The current course of developments is expected to define the future of bilateral relations, including the anticipated dialogue between Tehran and Washington, analysts say.
- By Jumana Al Tamimi, Associate Editor
- Published: 22:56 June 23, 2009
- Image Credit: Reuters
- Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on their ability to report, film or take pictures in Tehran. A man uses a mobile phone to record images of a protest in Tehran in this photo made available on Monday.
Dubai: The turmoil in Iran has created a controversial situation for the country and Western governments alike. The current course of developments is expected to define the future of bilateral relations, including the anticipated dialogue between Tehran and Washington, analysts say.
Watch video on Iran vigil in Dubai
While Tehran has accused the West, mainly Britain, of "meddling" in its internal affairs - a charge denied by London - many analysts in the region do not totally rule out the theory that the West is using Iran's riots and is taking advantage of advances in communication technology.
"Iran has not said the demonstrations were moved by the West," eminent Iranian analyst Ameer Mousavi said. "But it is saying that they [the West] are taking advantage of what is happening in Iran. The West is flowing with the tide of riots," he told Gulf News.
Persian-speaking media outlets based in the UK and US are playing a "very dangerous role," Tehran-based Mousavi said. "There is a fabrication to news & all these moves are negatively affecting any regime," he explained.
The Czech government, which is currently heading the European Union (EU), summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires in Prague on Monday to reject Iran's accusations of Western meddling in its affairs and called on other EU countries to do likewise.
Several European countries summoned Iranian diplomats to their foreign ministries to deliver stern warnings against continuation of the violence sparked by the outcome of Iran's presidential elections.
However, US president Barack Obama, who called earlier for mending bridges with Iran, took a softer stand, trying to keep his distance.
After he assumed power, Obama made it clear he sought to improve relations with Iran after nearly 30 years of enmity, during which Iran described the US as the "great Satan", and Washington called Tehran part of the "axis of evil".
After he took a middle stance between the two camps in Iran, Obama, under pressure from Congress and Republicans, has recently urged the government of Tehran to "stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people".
Meanwhile, Iran's accusing the US of meddling is seen by some analysts, including Hady Amr, Director of Brookings Doha Centre, as governments "across the middle east look[ing] for excuses for inaction, or look[ing] for ways to defend their actions, using external excuses."
Yet, Amr noted in an interview with Gulf News that the US and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has played a role in some of the major events in Iran's history.
However, "analysing history in the context of present" doesn't mean the US has been actively interfering in a clandestine way in Iran's election, Amr stressed.
In response to a question whether the angry reaction in Iran was totally internal, Amr said "we live in a new world, where there is no such thing as purely internal reaction in Iran," in reference to the globalised information environment. He repeated that he has no evidence of any American interference in violent actions in Iran.
Cell phones, Twitter and the internet are becoming the most effective channels of communications between Iran and the rest of the world during the demonstrations.
Harsh measures were taken against journalists, both Iranians and foreigners. Many were not allowed to cover the riots, and some foreigners were ordered to leave the country.
These measures were criticised by media and rejected by many Iranian circles as well, analysts said. Meanwhile, these measures don't give the excuse for Western governments to interfere in Iran's affairs, they added.
"As long as there is a heated debate inside Iran and on high level, it is ... [not] ... the Western governments' business to interfere. Such interference embarrasses the reformists, and benefits the conservatives," Mousavi said.
Many things are in the "balance this month" in Iran, according to analysts.
Iran's post-election developments are expected to complicate the path to the anticipated dialogue between Iran and the US.
"Central to Iran's future will be the legitimacy of the regime in the eyes of all its citizens. In the past, the accepted wisdom was that Iranian elections themselves were free and fair. What was very, very unfair was the disqualification of candidates who were seeking office," Amr said.
He added Iranian peoples' view of the status of their democracy will be reflected in a wide range of international relationships, including relations with West.
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