Seizing the day in Iran
THE BUSH administration should be congratulated for agreeing to join five other world powers in negotiating with Iran on the nuclear issue. The disastrous experience with North Korea has taught the United States about the dangers of isolationism. Of course, the Iranian regime must be engaged, but not only on the nuclear issue. The United States needs to develop a long-term strategy that encourages democratic initiatives in its dialogue with Iran.
The sordid history of the CIA coup and support of a despotic regime has created deep and well-founded suspicion among Iranians toward the US government. However, a new chapter is now unfolding. Given the military failures by the United States to deliver democracies on Iran's western and eastern borders -- in Iraq and Afghanistan -- it is all the more imperative to grab this rare opportunity for diplomatic wizardry.
For the past 27 years, the Islamic Republic has curtailed a wide spectrum of fundamental rights under the fallacious guise of labeling them as anti-Islamic. Women have been imprisoned behind thick black shrouds to prevent them from enjoying basic human rights; freedom of expression and association are severely limited; opponents have been imprisoned, tortured, ``disappeared," and executed; the judiciary is a mockery of justice; and the Parliament is restricted to ``pre-approved" candidates. And, of course, there is no accountability by those in power.
The Iranian people have lived through a revolution, its purge and betrayal, and a horrendous eight-year war with Iraq. Those who have the courage and dignity to take a stand against the regime are heroes.
There will come a day when there will be a democratic opening in Iran. And it will be due to the efforts of the activists in Iran -- not those in the exile community. The courageous civil society in Iran needs world support -- just as Andrei Sakharov and Vaclav Havel did when they stood up against tyranny. Leaders then had the wisdom to open the doors to cultural and educational dialogue, to incorporate human rights concerns into all bilateral and multilateral talks, and to encourage scientific and professional exchanges. The same approach needs to be applied to Iran.
There are a few things that the Bush administration can do to move the process along.
First, its engagement on the nuclear issue should lead to the immediate cessation of its military threats against Iran. They have only succeeded to amplify the Iranian regime's rallying nationalistic cries. As a result, legitimate opposition activities are labeled as treasonous at a time when national security is deemed as threatened.
Second, the United States must provide moral support, but not financial backing, for human rights activists. Financial support by the United States is the kiss of death. The American government's declaration that it will provide $70 million to Iranian human rights advocates has done tremendous harm to the cause of democracy in Iran. The Iranian regime has misused this information to depict bona fide human rights advocates as spies for the United States. However, supporting democracy and human rights activists by drawing attention to their plight and rallying behind them will serve to help focus global attention on their struggle.
Third, America can facilitate educational and cultural exchanges at all levels. The most expedient way to strengthen the base of the opposition movement in Iran is by giving young people a firsthand look at how democracies thrive because of, and not despite, the voices of dissent.
Finally, the United States should establish diplomatic relations with Iran. An effective foreign policy is built on engagement and not on isolationism. There are many despicable regimes in the world with which we have diplomatic ties.
Opening the US Embassy in Iran should not be tantamount to appeasement. It will provide an opportunity for the people on both sides to have dialogue on important issues like freedom, democracy, and arms control.
Human rights concerns should be integrated into talks at all levels. After all, surely our worries about Iran's nuclear ambitions would be decreased if it were a democratic state abiding by international human rights principles.
It is now time for us to look at Iran not as a threat but as an opportunity for peace.
Maryam Elahi is director of the Trinity College Human Rights Program. 
