Strategic politicians and experts said they were not optimistic about the Arab-Iranian relations after the re-election of President Ahmadinejad in light of his well-known intransigence. They also pointed out that the election of a reformist in Iran would not have lead to the awaited rapprochement between the Arabs and Iran given the crucial disputes and the lack of a concrete wish by the two parties to solve them. Ambassador Sayed Kasem Al-Masry, former assistant Foreign Minister and Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, said Ahmadinejad's statements do not serve the common issues between the Arabs and Iran because of his intransigence. Instead, he said they serve more the enemies of the Arab and Islamic nation.
He added that Israel is satisfied with Ahmadinejad's victory because this will serve its own interests and its efforts to market the idea of striking Iran, promote the idea of a common Arab-Israeli interest in being hostile to Iran and delude the Arabs into believing that Iran is the common enemy. He also said his victory would frustrate the US President's efforts to open up to Iran. Al-Masry said he had hoped the Iranian elections would bring about a positive change through the victory of a moderate and reformist, as this is in the best interests of peace in the region and the Arab-Iranian rapprochement. He stressed the need for rapprochement and coordination between the Arabs and Iran, pointing out that there is no reason for hostility to continue between the parties. He said it is no good for the Arabs to be intransigent against Iran, as Arab interests do not clash with Iran's.
Al-Masry condemned Israel's attempt to promote the idea that Iran is the common enemy of Israel and the Arabs. "The enemy is Israel, as its interests clash with ours and its existence is incompatible with the Arabs" he pointed out, while the dispute with Iran is about points of view, political systems and ideologies, he added.
For his part, Ambassador Mahmoud Farag, former chargé d'affaires at the Egyptian Embassy in Tehran, said the election of Ahmadinejad does not serve the Arab-Iranian relations. He expected he would focus in the future on the rapprochement with the US and the rest of the West. Farag said the contentious issues between the Arabs and Iran need time and political willingness from the two parties, something he said the Iranians do not have.
He pointed out that the election of a moderate in Iran would have had no impact on the future of Arab-Iranian relations, especially as the Arabs are weak and do not have a clear picture concerning their national security, while Iran knows very well what it wants and seeks to achieve. He said the US and the other Western countries are seeking a rapprochement with Iran since its project is clear and convincing for the US. He expected a Western-Iranian rapprochement in the near future and affirmed this could result in an Iranian-Israeli rapprochement as well, which he said is not in the Arabs' interest.
He pointed out that the US is instigating the Arabs against Iran while it is seeking to open a dialogue with Tehran itself, something which is against the interests of the Arab countries.
