Environment ministry signs agreement to strengthen marine protection, promote ecotourism    Egypt, WHO discuss expanding health cooperation, development initiatives    Egypt, Sierra Leone discuss expanding cooperation in transport, infrastructure    Gaza under siege, fire: Resistance intensifies amid deepening humanitarian collapse    Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Egypt for high-level talks    Service restoration underway after Cairo telecom fire, minister tells PM    Egypt's PM orders probe, pledges faster network upgrade after Ramsis Exchange blaze    Gold hits over 1-week low on stronger dollar    EGX closed mostly higher on July 9    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    Egypt, Pakistan boost healthcare ties – Cabinet    UK, Egypt strengthen cooperation on green transition, eco-tourism, and environmental investments    Escalation in Gaza as ceasefire talks remain fragile amid mounting humanitarian crisis    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Egypt's PM, Uruguay's president discuss Gaza, trade at BRICS summit    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt teams up with private sector to boost university rankings    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt condemns deadly terrorist attack in Niger    Egypt's FM, China's Wang discuss Iran-Israel escalation    Egypt's EHA, Schneider Electric sign MoU on sustainable infrastructure    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



U.S and Iran... cooperation or conflict?
Published in Albawaba on 05 - 11 - 2015

How do the Americans mark the 36th memory of the Iran hostage crisis this year? It could be a major question from the observers and analysts interested in the developments of the American-Iranian relations since 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew the U.S major ally Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.
The crisis memory coincides this year with notable improvement in the relations between the two countries for the first time since 1979 due to the nuclear agreement between the Persian state and the international major powers. Such agreement could pave the way for turning a new page in the relations between the two countries in such critical moment on the regional and international side.
However, there are fears that the Iranian regime could resume its obstinacy in the light of the big influence of the Shiite clerics insisting on describing the U.S as "the great devil". They expressed their refusal to any kind of normalization between their country and America despite the American aspiration to depend on Iran as qualified partner in a number of regional issues.
Yes, Iran is a major player in the current fight against ISIS. It also performs a major role in Syria. The Iranians cooperated for the first time with the U.S to put aside former Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki, who was one of Iran's major allies, and to support Haider al-Abadi to replace him in August 2015 against the backdrop of the consecutive defeats of the Iraqi military and security forces before ISIS militias.
Iran's role in Iraq revived the hopes of the U.S administration and even many observers that the Persian state could adopt the same position towards the Syrian regime, headed by President Bashar al-Assad. The U.S and Russia accepted the Iranian representation in Geneva talks over Syria recently in a clear recognition of its importance as an influential player on the regional arena.
Iranian authorities, on their side, were keen not to provoke the U.S and its major allies in Syria during the recent months. This Iranian position potentially was one of the main reasons that prompted the Russian government to interfere militarily in Syria to support Assad's regime against the armed militias there.
The major dilemma is how to interpret a number of Iranian actions against the U.S. The Iranian authorities refuse to release a number of American detainees bringing to the mind the American hostages crisis. A number of Iranians rallied before the old building of the U.S Embassy in Tehran on Wednesday to mark the memory of the crisis, chanting "death to America" and called on their government not to trust the U.S.
The Iranians refuse any kind of normalization to the extent that they shut down a restaurant just for carrying the name "KFC", the abbreviation of Kentucky Fried Chicken. The action comes amid increasing concern over the growing of the western influence in the Persian state.
On the other hand, the U.S Administration turned not to express its support for the Iranian role explicitly to satisfy its Gulf allies. U.S President Barack Obama pledged to increase his cooperation with the Gulf States to confront the Iranian influence that poses serious threat against their security. He also faces strong opposition inside the U.S, especially from the Republicans, since the conclusion of the nuclear agreement
Both the Iranian and American authorities have the same feelings. They look forward to cooperating, while they face challenges leading them to the conflict. These challenges could prompt the two governments not to take serious, or at least explicit, actions to overcome their differences. The matter could need more time, while the time would not be enough if it did not coincide with efforts to contain the challenges.


Clic here to read the story from its source.