Vladimir Mesamed: “Rouhani is trying to deflect attention away from the Iranian nuclear program”

Interview by Peter Lyukimson, Israel. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

On September 28, Barack Obama and Hassan Rouhani discussed the Iranian nuclear issue by phone (it was the first conversation between the presidents of Iran and the United States since 1979). On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to New York to meet with Obama, and on Tuesday he will address the UN General Assembly. Before his departure, the Israeli prime minister banned making any statements on Iran before his speech for all the ministers. According to Netanyahu, Israel's position on the Iranian issue must be extremely formal and uniform - one that will be announced by him personally. In Israel, where there is complete freedom of speech, and every minister has the right to his own point of view, sometimes dramatically different from the point of view of the head of government , the prime minister resorts to such instructions in exceptional situations, we can say, emergencies. It now remains to wait for the speech by Netanyahu and see whether it is something extraordinary .

Recently, Vestnik Kavkaza wrote about the opinion of the Israeli politicians and journalists to Rouhani’s recent speech at the UN General Assembly. See “Israel does not believe Rouhani”.

Now, the recent statements by the Iranian leader are commented on by the representative of the academic science - one of Israel's leading experts on Iran, lecturer at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the Open University of Israel, Dr. Vladimir Mesamed.

See part 1 http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/45705.html

-          What were the reasons for denial of the Holocaust by the Iranian authorities? What were their goals?

-          The Holocaust topic in the Iranian mass media always gains a second breath under a worsening of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It was especially popular in September 2000 when the second intifada began. In April 2001 on the Memorial Day of the Holocaust Victims the official Iranian information agency IRNA reported from the Palestinian autonomy that the genocide of peaceful population continues there. “The blockage of the PA by Israel established the conditions for its populations, which were much worse than in death camps which are discussed by Zionists who speak about the Holocaust.” The most consistent and tireless subverter of the Holocaust reality was the former Iranian president Mahmud Ahmadinejad. Massive and provocative anti-Israeli statements by Ahmadinejad were obviously approved by the religious establishment of the country.

It is interesting that the denial of the Holocaust by the Iranian politicians has a core element: consistent attempts to connect the Disaster of the Eastern European Jews with problems of the Israeli-Palestinian relations. The main reason for popularity of the denial of the Holocaust in the Iranian society is that the Iranian authorities need counter-arguments against the world criticism of the Iranian concept of destruction of Israel and confirmation that Israel uses the idea of the Holocaust for oppression of the Palestinians. It seems Ahmadinejad who stiffened his anti-Israeli rhetoric fulfilled the fundamental task set by the religious elite of the country: to achieve radicalization of the social opinion in the country, which would contribute to conservation of the power in hands of the conservative clergy. Frequent turning to the themes of Israel, the Holocaust, Iran’s protection of the Palestinian’s rights improve Iran’s chances for leadership in the Islamic world, according to Tehran. I think Rouhani will manage to change something in this direction, trying to deflect attention away from the Iranian nuclear program.

-          Do you think recent statements and speeches by Rouhani are full of intention to change the position of Iran and conduct a dialogue with the West or has nothing changed?

-          The whole rhetoric of the President is aimed at establishing an impression in the West that Iran is ready for a dialogue. It is clear because the Iranians have to achieve the cancelation or the minimization of sanctions. The heavy economic situation can lead to a social protest. The point is in survival capability of the regime. So, they have to pretend that they are doing something. It fact nothing has changed.

-          How were the statements by Rouhani seen in Iran – in the top structures and among the population?

-          It is difficult to speak about the population, but I think there are many people in Iran who realize the truth. As for representatives of two main poles of the internal political spectrum – fundamentalists and reformists – the last believe that Rouhani’s words were meant for the internal audience and their main goal was political opponents in Iran. Let’s look at the popular analytical website in the country – Asre Iran. It noted a direct connection between internal process of confidence-building by the power and the policy of peaceful initiatives at the international arena. “Iran should and has a right for negotiations with the U.S.A. When the national interests are under threat, something should be done, bridges should be built, it concerns either the U.S. or any other country.” Fundamentalists, especially the military elite, are satisfied that the new president of the country has managed to present the Islamic Republic of Iran properly at such an important summit. Thus, the speech by President somehow harmonized both parties of the Iranian political field.

-          Do you think the observers who stated that Rouhani has won PR-competition with Israel at this stage and managed to win over some Western politicians and public opinion are right?

-          I think if Rouhani didn’t do it, at least he drew attention to himself. The predecessor of Ahmadinejad, the reformist Hatami got a nickname from the Iranians – “smiling Seyed.” The Iranian media has already noted that Rouhani is also very charming. They are similar in appearance – attractive, wearing fine glasses, smiling and seemingly good-hearted. Such people have credibility. But we shouldn’t make a mistake.