Since last spring’s presidential election in Iran, when Mohammed Khatami won a landslide victory over opposition from hard-line Moslem clerics, Western analysts have been watching for signals about the new leader’s foreign policy views–in particular, whether he is open to better relations with the U.S.
Now, in nominating his new cabinet, Khatami has sent some encouraging signals that he may be willing to take a fresh look at the multitude of issues alienating Tehran from Washington. The question is whether he’ll ever get to follow through.
In a move that has enraged the most conservative mullahs in Iran’s theocratic regime, Khatami has designated a well-known maverick who once called for direct negotiations with the U.S. as his candidate for the critical job of culture minister.
In addition, Khatami has nominated as foreign minister Iran’s representative to the UN, a man who has lived in the U.S. for years and who has come under attack from Islamic hard-liners for insufficient revolutionary fervor. Khatami also raised fundamentalist eyebrows by picking a relative moderate as interior minister, Iran’s powerful top policeman.
The choice of Ataollah Mohajerani as culture minister would be unpopular within Iran’s ruling clique even had he not plunged into political heresy seven years ago by urging talks with Washington.
Mohajerani also advocates greater cultural freedom, a red flag for narrow-minded fundamentalists since the culture ministry determines what books and films–and therefore how broad a range of ideas and opinions–Iranians will have access to.
The selection of such a high-profile iconoclast to head this ministry is rich in irony and symbolism, because Khatami himself was once fired from the same job for being too moderate.
Iran’s parliament must approve all cabinet selections, and its verdicts on the most controversial nominations should help clarify how much leeway Khatami will have in pursuing change.
For that reason, Washington must make clear right now that it is ready to take part in high-level talks with his government. The right signal from the U.S. might strengthen Khatami’s hand.
Treating Iran as an international pariah has not resolved Washington’s major complaints with it–its sponsorship of terrorism, its quest for nuclear weapons and its harmful meddling in the Middle East peace process. If there is a chance to try a different approach, the U.S. must not miss it.
