Message to Biden from the Arab
world: No 🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒return to appeasing Iran
BARIA ALAMUDDIN
October 31, 202020:21
66
Short Url
https://arab.news/y75qs
As a Joe Biden victory in the
US election has seemed increasingly probable over recent weeks, there has been
an immense volume of debate throughout the Arab world as to what a Biden
presidency would mean for this troubled region; from those desperate to see an
end to the chaos of the Trump years, to those who fear an Obama-inspired return to appeasing Tehran.
The Arab world primarily looks
to a prospective Biden administration for global re-engagement, working with
European, NATO and Arab allies to re-establish a rules-based order so that
dictatorial strongmen and pariah regimes can’t dominate near-neighbors with
ruthless impunity. Enough of Putin, Erdogan, Netanyahu and Khamenei grappling for supremacy
throughout the region, trampling Arab sovereignty and identity underfoot.
Leaders in Tehran, meanwhile, hope Biden
leadership means easing of sanctions and unmolested continuation of their
belligerent regional policies, while waiting for America to come begging for a
diluted version of the 2015 nuclear deal. Biden should thus strengthen his hand
by affirming that there will be no sanctions respite until Iran definitively agrees to live
peacefully within its own borders, renouncing terrorism, paramilitarism and
nuclear ambitions.
The fact that the
International Atomic Energy Agency recently revealed that the regime, at immense cost, is building a
new underground site for enriching uranium at Natanz is proof enough that the
ayatollahs aren’t preparing for a rapid return to compliance with their
obligations. While ordinary Iranians starve, this regime squanders its wealth on nuclear weapons.
Immediately after the US
presidential inauguration, Iran will enter its own presidential elections season, making hopes for a quick
deal expressed by some Biden aides appear wildly optimistic. Indeed, rushed
efforts to revive the 2015 deal risk repeating Obama’s mistake in appearing
more eager than Tehran for an agreement, resulting in one side making most of the concessions.
On the contrary, Iran should be the one compelled to
come and beg for a deal. Khamenei’s xenophobic regime believes nuclear arsenals and paramilitary armies guarantee its survival
against a hostile world. It will make concessions in these domains only as a
last resort to stave off regime collapse. Reports have been circulating about behind-the-scenes communications
between Iranians, Israelis and US officials. Indeed, after three years of intensified
sanctions, it may be that Tehran is already more desperate for a deal than it would like us to believe.
The Obama and Trump presidencies were broadly
defined by a desire to reduce America’s embroilment in foreign quagmires. Yet
in Beirut, Baghdad, Kabul and a host of other capitals today, there is a veritable thirst for
the re-emergence of muscular Western diplomacy, to outmaneuver Iran and its allies, and in defense
of stability and effective governance.
Biden should strengthen his
hand by affirming that there will be no sanctions respite until Iran definitively agrees to live
peacefully within its own borders, renouncing terrorism, paramilitarism and
nuclear ambitions.
Baria Alamuddin
A swift Biden intervention
could have a major impact in Lebanon. After months of prevarication, with Saad
Hariri back in the frame as prime minister, vigorous Biden support for French
President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts in favor of a competent, technocratic
government could open the floodgates for an IMF deal, while also thwarting Hezbollah.
US readiness to recommence
talks with Tehran should be premised on Iran instructing its paramilitary allies in Lebanon and Iraq to allow democratic
processes to take their course, halting attempts at destabilization with the
objective of capturing the political system for themselves. Ultimately, America
and its allies must follow through and ensure the wholesale disarmament and dismantlement
of these militias, if the region is to enjoy any kind of long-term stability
and security.
Biden will also need to
grapple with the Palestine issue. He should set aside Trump and Netanyahu’s attempts to
prejudice the issue, and instead acknowledge Palestinian territorial rights
throughout the occupied territories and East Jerusalem. Biden’s commitment to
Israel’s security may be “ironclad,” but Israel can enjoy long-term security
only in the context of a just peace deal with Palestinians, as well as with
Arab neighbors.
The aspirations of ordinary
people throughout the Arab world are remarkably normal: They want jobs,
stability, and quality education and health services for their families. Women
demand the same freedoms and opportunities as men. Citizens don’t desire to be
dominated by extremists — not Daesh, the Muslim Brotherhood, or Iran’s proxies. Faced with water
shortages, desertification, extreme temperatures and overdependence on oil,
this is a region that stands to benefit from Biden’s emphasis on climate change.
This is furthermore a region
burdened by vast displaced populations — Syrians, Palestinians, Yemenis,
Iraqis, Libyans, Sudanese, and now even Lebanese looking for a better life
overseas. By rolling back Trump’s funding cuts for refugees and giving immediate attention to this
challenge, Biden can prevent fresh humanitarian catastrophes and the knock-on
ramifications of extremism; mass population movements. smuggling of people,
arms and narcotics, and chronic regionwide instability.
A Biden administration will be
faced with a massive pile of domestic and foreign priorities, not least of
which will be reaching strategic understandings with China. Meanwhile, an
outgoing Trump administration is widely expected to adopt a scorched-earth policy, making
life as problematic as possible for its successor. After four years of Trump, US institutions are already in
chaos; for example; the hollowed-out and politicized State Department, where a host of diplomatic
positions remain empty. Thus, it may be many months before Biden makes any
progress toward unveiling an ambitious multilateral global agenda, let alone
striking a quick-win deal with Tehran.
Americans have been attracted
to Biden’s candidacy because he is a moderate, non-divisive figure, a contrast
to the controversies and confrontations of the Trump years. Let’s hope that Biden
also has the caliber to be a unifying force on the global stage.
The Middle East enjoys immense
potential and vast resources. But we have learned from bitter experience that
the wider world can enjoy tranquility and prosperity only when the threats of
extremism, instability and inequality in this strategically crucial region are
confronted head-on.
·
Baria Alamuddin is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster in the
Middle East and the UK. She is editor of the Media Services Syndicate and has
interviewed numerous heads of state.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by
writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News'
point-of-view
Opinion
Baria Alamuddin
Message
to Biden from the Arab world: No return to appeasing Iran
Hafed Al-Ghwell
Everywhere
Iraqis turn, there is darkness
❤️🌳💧 #شورش زندانیان #تيك_تاك_سرنگوني # شهرهای شورشی❤️🌳🍒
❤️🌳💧#مجاهدین_خلق ایران #ایران # کانونهای شورشی❤️🌳🌹🌹🌹
❤️🌳💧#coronavirus #COVID2019 #IranRegimeChange❤️🌳💧
❤️🌳💧#انحلال_سپاه_پاسداران #ما بر اندازیم #شهادت_ميدهم #اعدام نکنید❤️🌳💧
🍒🌳🌹 ما را در توئیتر با حساب توئیتری 7 @Bahar iran دنبال کنید❤️🌳💧
