Trying to charm Khamenei

US President seeks direct contact with Iran's unpredictable 'Supreme Guide', an unprecedented step for Washington.

In trying to shape policy on Iran, US President Barack Obama has made three decisions that could determine the direction his administration takes in its biggest foreign policy challenge. The first is to renounce the idea of a regime change, a point made clear in Obama's Iranian New Year message. The second decision is to engage in direct unconditional talks.

That, too, is new.

All of Obama's predecessors had tried dialogue with Tehran. However, they had done that in secret, with preconditions, and based on a limited agenda. Obama's third decision and, perhaps, the most significant, is to seek direct contact with Ali Khamenei, the cleric who holds the position of 'Supreme Guide'.

That, too, is new.

Obama's predecessors always tried to circumvent the 'Supreme Guide' by establishing contact with other power-brokers in Tehran.

Jimmy Carter chose prime minister Mehdi Bazargan. Ronald Reagan contacted president Abol-Hassan Banisadr before opting for prime minister Mir-Hussain Mussavi and, when offered a better deal, switched to Parliament speaker Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Bill Clinton chose president Mohammad Khatami as his bridgehead in Tehran.

At first glance, Obama's choice may appear judicious. After all, in the Khomeinist system, real power rests with the 'Supreme Guide'.

Nevertheless, Obama's decision to directly deal with Khamenei may prove problematic for two reasons.

The first is that relations with the US is the key issue in Iran's domestic politics. Rival factions know that whoever achieves normalisation will have an edge over the others.

Khamenei does not have the same incentive to improve relations with the US. In fact, he may adopt a harder line to highlight his revolutionary credentials as the man who humbled the 'Great Satan'.

Also, it would be harder for Khamenei to offer the painful concessions without which no US president, not even the sympathetic Obama, could declare the Khomeinist regime a friend. The 'Supreme Guide' always needs subalterns who could be jettisoned when, and if, a foreign deal undermines the regime's revolutionary legitimacy. He needs the buffer of plausible deniability in case things go pear-shape.

The second reason why the choice of Khamenei as interlocutor may not be as astute as it looks, is related to his personality. Khamenei's life has been shaped by events beyond his control, offering him little opportunity to interact with others and take decisions.

Born in 1940, he was dragged into radical politics in his teens, and forced to abandon his theological studies. By the time he was 20, he had passed through a number of prisons, before being banished to a remote town on the Pakistani frontier.

When the clerics seized power in 1979, his oratorical talent and the fact that, unlike most clerics, he spoke proper Persian and managed a correct self-taught Arabic brought him to Khomeini's attention.

The ayatollah used Khameini for a number of propaganda missions to the provinces. But, with the exception of a few months as deputy defence minister, Khamenei never acquired executive experience.

He was so indecisive that he was unable to complete his office staff by the time he left the ministry.

In 1989, he was promoted as 'Supreme Guide' in a putsch organised by Rafsanjani.

A recently leaked video shows a bewildered Khamenei telling an assembly of clerics, gathered to elect a new 'Supreme Guide' in the wake of Khomeini's death, of his "lack of qualifications" for the position. Khamenei tells them he does not want the job, and then storms out of the assembly hall.

Before becoming 'Supreme Guide', Khamenei acted as President of the Islamic Republic for eight years. At the time, however, the presidency was a ceremonial position with the prime minister heading the executive. As president, Khamenei's staff numbered fewer than 100, and weeks could pass without anyone hearing from him.

He has had little experience in negotiations and even less contact with the outside world. The only European state he visited was Yugoslavia, in 1989, where he forged a friendship with Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic.

In 1992, the Criminal Court in Berlin, Germany, issued an international arrest warrant against Khamenei, and three other top Khomeinist officials, on charges of involvement in the murder of four Iranian Kurdish exiles. That ended all thought of foreign travel for Khamenei.

As 'Supreme Guide', Khamenei has met only one Western leader: Kurt Waldheim, the President of Austria.

Khamenei has lived in a cocoon for more than 20 years. His entourage make every effort to limit access to him. Bombarded by flattery and adulation, it is unlikely that he has not been affected by the cult of personality built around him. For years, he has been reported to be in poor health, but no specific ailment is suggested.

The 'Supreme Guide' plays his hand close to his chest on major issues. No one knows with certainty what he thinks on any of the subjects that arouse passion and/or concern in Iran. He seldom issues written orders and his comments on official reports are deliberately vague.

He is reputed to take umbrage quickly, is easily angered, and capable of nursing chagrin for years. Those who know him closely claim that he never forgets or forgives.

Charming Khamenei into making a deal with the 'Great Satan' could prove a real challenge for Obama.

Amir Taheri is an Iranian writer based in Europe.

Amir Taheri is a good writer but when he writes about issues other than Iran. It is ironic that he lacks basic knowledge about his country of origin or concocts ideas to stay relevant.
Noorain Ansari
Kashmir,India
Posted: April 08, 2009, 18:57

Mr Amir Taheri your comments are a child's. Every one in the Muslim world knows Mr Khamenei very well. My friend you need to go to school and learn how to be a writer
Salim Sultan
Mumbai,India
Posted: April 08, 2009, 16:15

The writer must see the people of Iran, Pakistan and many other Islamic countries that how passionately they love Khamanie.
Mohammad Rehan
Lahore,Pakistan
Posted: April 08, 2009, 11:53

"spoke proper Persian and managed a correct self-taught Arabic brought him to Khomeini's attention."Do you really mean it seriously? do u really believe in what you write? Even a 5th grader would not buy that languages alone make Supreme leader in Iran. Do you think you can write such articles alone on the basis of the languages you know? obviously we can see you hardly do any research before writing these articles. He chose to be what he is today on the basis of his years of education and political know how. But seems like Iranians living in Europe know the least about their own leaders. If Obama wants to charm the Supreme leader, thats the fact right there that Kaminei is not willing to bend to arrogant
Ali Sayani
Karachi,Pakistan
Posted: April 08, 2009, 10:23

Mr Khamenei has been showing is capabilities to keep the nation united since Ayatollah Khomeini departure under tight conditions.Look at the sanction jointly put on the Iranians by western world to create the division in Iran.Why he needs to meet international figures when they trying to topple the Islamic republic?.Finally he has succeeded to rorce the western world led by US to come to talk uncondionally.Note that there was a disagreement between what Iranians believe and western powers.For neutral people Iranians proved that sanctions,Isolation and economic problems are ok with them compare to going against their belive and make friends with western powers who are agaisnt Islam and muslims.Mr Amir Taheri is fructrated for this American gestures towards Iran
Syed Qurban Hussain
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 08, 2009, 09:47

The writer's comments are totally based on his own thoughts, as I can understand he is an anti Khomeini
Syed Shabib Naqvi
Lahore,Pakistan
Posted: April 08, 2009, 09:41