World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (October 27, 2011)

The Washington Post reported that the Obama administration is setting up an Internet-based embassy to reach out to Iranians hoping to broaden their understanding of the United States. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the “virtual embassy in Tehran” will be online by the end of the year. She told the BBC’s Persian-language service Wednesday the site will aim to answer questions on traveling and studying in the U.S. Clinton said she wants to increase student visas for Iranians hoping to study at American schools. The U.S. hasn’t had an embassy in Iran since breaking off diplomatic relations shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran, likewise, has no embassy in Washington.

The same agency published the article headlined “To deal with Iran’s nuclear future, go back to 2008.” It says that Obama should return to his original approach and test the Iranians to see if there is any room for dialogue and agreement. Engaging with Iran, putting its nuclear program under some kind of supervision and finding areas of common interest (such as Afghanistan) would all be important goals. This might not be possible. Iran has its own deep divisions, and many in the regime feel threatened by any opening to the West. But that is precisely why the administration should keep searching for ways to create that opening.

“Out of Iraq” is an article published by The Los Angeles Times. It says that Iran has just defeated the United States in Iraq. The American withdrawal, which comes after the administration's failure to secure a new agreement that would have allowed troops to remain in Iraq, won't be good for ordinary Iraqis or for the region. But it will unquestionably benefit Iran. Despite recent administration claims to the contrary, Iraq today meets none of those conditions. Its sovereignty is hollow because of the continued activities of Iranian-backed militias in its territory. Its stability is fragile, since the fundamental disputes among ethnic and sectarian groups remain unresolved. And it is not in any way self-reliant. The Iraqi military cannot protect its borders, its airspace or its territorial waters without foreign assistance.

The Turkish information agency Hurriyet Daily News reported that Turkey is not discriminating between countries that have offered help in the wake of a devastating earthquake in Van, President Abdullah Gül said on Oct. 26, as Israel announced it would send prefabricated houses to the disaster-struck area after Ankara gave the green light for foreign aid. “There are many countries offering assistance. The Turkish Foreign Ministry made an announcement for specific assistance at the moment the need emerged,” Gül told reporters. Gül said that not only Israel, but other countries were also sending aid when asked about his phone conversation with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Israel’s assistance for Van.

The Iranian information agency Press TV published the article subtitled “Iran urges UK to amend attitude.” It says that Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has called on British officials to amend their posture towards the Islamic Republic in accordance with current realities within the country. Salehi's remarks came as the new British Ambassador to Tehran, Dominick John Chilcott, submitted his credentials to the Iranian minister on Wednesday, Fars news agency reported. During the meeting, Salehi pointed to relations between Tehran and London during recent years and emphasized on the urgent need for the British government to modify their hostile attitude toward Iran based on the existing realities in the Islamic Republic.