'NIAC Memo: Did Tehran Really Rebuff Obama?
President Barack Obama's remarkable Norooz message initiated a much needed direct conversation between two countries long at odds and used to interaction through intermediaries.The response by Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in turn, reflected Tehran's openness to improved relations if Washington changes its approach. It also showed that Iran's leadership is quite attuned to recent policy debates in the U.S. about how to go about talking to Iran.President Obama message was remarkable for several reasons. First, unlike his predecessor, he did not attempt to drive a wedge between the people and government of Iran. He spoke explicitly to the "people and leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran," acknowledging their common history and culture. No more ‘we love the people of Iran but hate their government' taunt repeatedly brandished by the Bush Administration.
Second, he did not try to drive a wedge between different political factions in Iran. By addressing all, he put to rest all the diversionary chatter about who his administration should talk to. His focus was not on which Iranians the US wishes to - "moderates" or "pragmatists" - or should talk to - ones who "really" wield power - but the fact that the two countries should talk on matters of mutual interest and about their differences.Third, avoiding demonizing rhetoric and peremptory demands, he stated his commitment to a diplomatic process that "will not be advanced by threats." This is the closest anyone in the US has come to ruling out the military option.Finally, going beyond Washington's fetish over Iran's nuclear program, he stated his interest in addressing "full range of issues" and "constructive ties" between the two countries.President Obama did not ignore "serious differences that have gown over time. Furthermore, the section of his speech conditioning Iran's "rightful place in the community of nations" on its responsibility to abandon "terror and arms" and pursuit of "peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization" was patronizing if not insulting. However, the general tenor of the speech was so different from what Tehran is used to hearing that it drew an immediate response from Iran's leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
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