Paper
As Gaza peace negotiations take center stage, Washington should use the tools that have proven the most effective over the past decades of Middle East mediation.
Amr Hamzawy, Sarah Yerkes, Kathryn Selfe
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Source: Getty
Iran: Reality, Opinions, and Consequences
The United States must alter its democracy promotion strategy, which has been unconstructive and counterproductive, and make clear that it has no intention of undermining Iran's territorial integrity. A move away from democracy promotion, however, should not signal indifference to human rights abuses.
Published on Oct 30, 2007
Source: Testimony before the House Oversight Committee's National Security and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee
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Sadjadpour explained the views of the Iranian people and the effect those views have on Iranian and U.S. foreign policy. He made the following points:
- The discontent in Iran is deeply felt, widespread, and largely economic, but factors such as the Iraq war have tempered Iranian desire for abrupt change.
- Tehran is not a microcosm of Iran.
- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has failed to deliver on campaign promises, but his fate is uncertain.
- The degree of popular support for the nuclear issue has been exaggerated.
- The government’s enmity toward the U.S. and Israel doesn’t resonate on the Iranian street, but the U.S. has lost political capital among Iranians.
- The Iranian public has little impact on the country’s foreign policy.
Outlining the implications for U.S. foreign policy he said:
- In the current climate, U.S. democracy promotion efforts have been unconstructive and counterproductive.
- Objective, professional, Persian-language news sources would be well-received in Iran.
- A sudden upheaval or abrupt political change is unlikely to be for the better.
- The United States should make it clear that it has no intention of undermining Iran’s territorial integrity.
- Altering democracy promotion efforts does not mean indifference to human rights abuses.
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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