British Prime Minister David Cameron’s meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday could be seen as a thawing of relations between the two countries for the first time since 1979. On closer analysis, more would need to be done, rather than being seen to be done, on the ground before normality is restored. The current crisis in the Middle East and a global coalition’s attempts to control it is turning once sworn enemies into friends. In keeping with this arrangement, Iran can play an important role in the offensive against Daesh (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) militants.
One meeting will not be enough to overcome the long-standing trust deficit between the two nations. Cameron told Rouhani that Iran could help in the fight against Daesh while the Iranian president tweeted that he had an hour of “constructive and pragmatic dialogue” and that there was a “new outlook”. The interface between the two leaders is a step in the right direction. Should the relationship survive there is a lot to gain for both countries, specifically in the field of trade and commerce. Cautious optimism must be signalled to act as a panacea to age-old tensions.
