U.S ex-official: Iran and U.S must activate diplomatic channels
A member of U.S National Security Department says that it is in the interest of both countries –Iran and Unites states- to find viable ways to solve problems that help both sides.
Howard Stoffer who is the Associate Professor of university of New Haven tells "I believe the Biden Administration would like to find a way to improve its relationship with Iran, but it must conduct that exercise bearing in mind how a better relationship would impact on Israel, its other friends in the Middle East.;" adding that Biden Administration will repair its relations with all parts of the world, allies, friends and competitors. He believes that If Iran and the U.S. could reactivate the diplomatic channels that were available in the George W. Bush and Obama Administrations; it is possible that the U.S. could recognize that Iran needs financial resources to respond effectively against covid19.
You can read his full interview with ILNA news agency as follows:
Q: How can the Biden government help Iran without lifting sanctions?
A: It is true that U.S. sanctions on Iran have had a significant impact on the economy of Iran and its oil exports. One factor that you raise is allowing enough funding for Iran to purchase and distribute vaccines to fight covid and inoculate the population from this scourge. If Iran and the U.S. could reactivate the diplomatic channels that were available in the George W. Bush and Obama Administrations, it is possible that the U.S. could recognize that Iran needs financial resources to respond effectively against covid. Such an action may open the way for new discussions about the U.S. rejoining the JCPOA and Iran agreeing to limit its activities in some of the Shia states where instabilities have proliferated over the past four years.
It is in the interest of both countries to find viable ways to solve problems that help both sides. It is possible that covid may be the catalyst for such discussions and could promote good will on both sides to move forward with win-win solutions.
Q: How other countries can soften Iran-U.S. tensions?
A: One way forward might be the U.S. encouraging its allies and friends like South Korea to provide support for Iran to acquire covid vaccines that can provide enough of several variants now available from Europe, Russia and China to inoculate all of its citizens. That would be the kind of step that does not try to address the whole bilateral relationship at once, but could become a foundation for rebuilding trust and openness to discuss the more difficult and challenging issues that confront the U.S. and Iran.
Q: Did Biden wait too long to engage Iran?
A: I believe the Biden Administration would like to find a way to improve its relationship with Iran, but it must conduct that exercise bearing in mind how a better relationship would impact on Israel, its other friends in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, the (Persian) Gulf States, and Egypt among others, and how a return to the JCPOA would in turn secure a different Iranian approach to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, and its relations with Russia and China as well. The mosaic is complex but can be done if good will is expressed by all sides.
Q: How Biden can restore U.S. global leadership after Trump’s retreat from international institutions?
A: The Biden Administration will repair its relations with all parts of the world, allies, friends and competitors. It will take time and it will build momentum so that the more difficult issues, like relations with Iran, will eventually be assisted by a much more global American approach in its desire for multilateralism and participation in international organizations again.
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