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In Tehran, Too, Netanyahu’s Speech Finds an Eager Audience In Tehran, Too, Netanyahu’s Speech Finds an Eager Audience
(about 1 hour later)
TEHRAN — The open tensions between the United States and Israel over how to address Iran’s nuclear program are playing to an eager audience in Tehran, where the news media has highlighted the division as evidence that Israel is being isolated and analysts are examining whether the rift could affect the outcome of the nuclear negotiations. TEHRAN — The tensions between the United States and Israel over how to address Iran’s nuclear program are playing to an eager audience in Tehran, where the news media has highlighted the division as evidence that Israel is being isolated by its otherwise steadfast ally and analysts are examining how the rift might affect the outcome of the nuclear negotiations.
“We are witnessing a division between the United States and Israel,” one of Iran’s most outspoken hard-liners, Mehdi Taeb, said on Monday, according to the news website Rasa. “This is unprecedented.” “We are witnessing a division between the United States and Israel,” one of Iran’s most outspoken hard-line clerics, Mehdi Taeb, said on Monday, according to the news website Rasa. “This is unprecedented.”
The strains between the United States and Israel, known by hard-liners here as the “great and little Satan,” have become increasingly public as Washington and Tehran seek to conclude an agreement that would limit Iran’s ability to continue developing its nuclear capacity. Many here have been eagerly awaiting the address by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to the United States Congress on Tuesday, not because they believe he will be able to halt the nuclear talks, but because they say they hope the Israeli leader’s blunt approach will turn American public opinion against him. The strains between the United States and Israel, known by some hard-liners here as the “great and little Satan,” have become increasingly public as Washington and Tehran seek to conclude an agreement that would limit Iran’s ability to continue developing its nuclear capacity. Many here have been eagerly awaiting the address by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to the United States Congress on Tuesday, not because they believe he will be able to halt the nuclear talks, but because they say they hope the Israeli leader’s blunt approach will turn American public opinion against him.
“We are very happy that people are starting to understand the national security interests of the United States differ from those of Mr. Netanyahu,” said Ali Khorram, a former Iranian diplomat with close ties to the government. “If he continues like this, Mr. Netanyahu will only lose more credibility in the eyes of the Americans.”“We are very happy that people are starting to understand the national security interests of the United States differ from those of Mr. Netanyahu,” said Ali Khorram, a former Iranian diplomat with close ties to the government. “If he continues like this, Mr. Netanyahu will only lose more credibility in the eyes of the Americans.”
For decades, Iran’s leaders have been arguing that United States foreign policy has been taken hostage by Israeli interests. In speeches, they decry what they say is the enormous power and influence Israeli lobby groups have over politicians in Washington. For decades, Iran’s leaders have been arguing that United States foreign policy has been taken hostage by Israeli interests. In speeches, they denounce what they say is the power and influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups over politicians in Washington.
Iran does not recognize Israel as a country, and over the past decades some of its leaders have often threatened to make Israel “vanish from the pages of time,” something that has also been translated as “wipe Israel off the map.” Iran does not recognize Israel as a country, and over the past decades some of its leaders have taken a bellicose stance toward Israel, including the former president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who threatened to make Israel “vanish from the pages of time,” something that has also been translated as “Israel must be wiped off the map.”
But now, with the bond between the United States and Israel suddenly facing pressures from within, the Iranian news media is joyously reporting on protests in front of the Washington headquarters of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or Aipac, Israel’s main lobby group in the United States. Now, with the bond between the United States and Israel facing pressures from both sides, the Iranian news media is joyously reporting on protests in front of the Washington headquarters of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or Aipac, Israel’s main lobby group in the United States.
“People are shouting slogans in favor of Iran,” the semiofficial news agency Tasnim reported on Tuesday, showing pictures of Jewish men belonging to a sect that opposes Zionism. In one image, a man could be seen holding up a sign saying “Aipac violates Judaism.”“People are shouting slogans in favor of Iran,” the semiofficial news agency Tasnim reported on Tuesday, showing pictures of Jewish men belonging to a sect that opposes Zionism. In one image, a man could be seen holding up a sign saying “Aipac violates Judaism.”
The state-owned newspaper Tehran Times featuredan image of protesters wearing Netanyahu masks smeared with a blood-like color. “Protests held in Washington against Netanyahu,” the headline read. The state-owned newspaper Tehran Times featured an image of protesters wearing Netanyahu masks smeared with a blood-like color. “Protests held in Washington against Netanyahu,” the headline read.
Hard-liners in Iran have long opposed the United States, and insist that American politicians will never give up their enmity against Iran because the two countries have opposing ideologies. In recent years, Iran has benefited from the American pullout from the region, filling a vacuum in Iraq and openly supporting a power takeover in Yemen. Conservative clerics and military commanders fiercely loyal to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have long opposed the United States, and they insist that American politicians will never give up their enmity against Iran because the two countries have irreconcilable ideologies. In recent years, Iran has benefited from the American pullout from the region, filling a vacuum in Iraq and openly supporting a power takeover in Yemen.
Together with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran has been assisting Bashar al-Assad, the embattled president of Syria.Together with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran has been assisting Bashar al-Assad, the embattled president of Syria.
Beyond the glee over the open fight, most Iranian analysts say they do not think that Mr. Netanyahu’s visit will really damage ties between the United States and Israel. “This is more of a political game for Netanyahu,” said Nasser Hadian, a professor of political science at the University of Tehran. “After his elections he will start mending ties again.” Beyond the evident glee over the open disagreements between Washington and Jerusalem, most Iranian analysts say they do not think that Mr. Netanyahu’s visit will really damage ties between the United States and Israel. “This is more of a political game for Netanyahu,” said Nasser Hadian, a professor of political science at the University of Tehran. “After his elections he will start mending ties again.”
Others, however, say they think that Mr. Netanyahu’s speech before Congress can affect the sensitive nuclear negotiations. Others, however, say they think Mr. Netanyahu’s speech before Congress can affect the delicate nuclear negotiations.
“Netanyahu’s offensive may stiffen the U.S. posture at a time when flexibility is crucial, but not for the reason most suspect: If America toughens, it won’t be because Bibi has forced Obama’s hand, but because he has made the U.S. and its demands appear more reasonable,” Mohammad Ali Shabani, a political analyst who is often in Tehran, said, using a shortened form of Mr. Netanyahu’s first name. “Any party that feels that it can win the blame game is less likely to adopt the flexibility necessary for a breakthrough.” “Netanyahu’s offensive may stiffen the U.S. posture at a time when flexibility is crucial, but not for the reason most suspect,” said Mohammad Ali Shabani, a political analyst who is often in Tehran.
Mr. Shabani, who in the past has worked for an Iranian think tank, argued that for Iran, all politics is local. Now, he said, all leaders want a nuclear deal, “but their unity is predicated on a commitment to ensuring that the domestic blame game will be won; and so far, they have succeeded.” “If America toughens, it won’t be because Bibi has forced Obama’s hand, but because he has made the U.S. and its demands appear more reasonable,” he said, using Mr. Netanyahu’s nickname.
Still, some in Iran said that things were more clear than that. “The rift between both allies is nothing more than a political trick,” said Hamid Reza Taraghi, a political analyst with views close to that of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “This so-called rift is a petty game of good cop, bad cop. We will not fall for that.” “Any party that feels that it can win the blame game is less likely to adopt the flexibility necessary for a breakthrough,” he added.
Mr. Shabani, who had worked for an Iranian think tank, said that for Iran, all politics is local. Now, he said, all leaders want a nuclear deal, “but their unity is predicated on a commitment to ensuring that the domestic blame game will be won; and so far, they have succeeded.”
Still, some in Iran said that things were more clear than that. “The rift between both allies is nothing more than a political trick,” said Hamid Reza Taraghi, a political analyst close to Ayatollah Khamenei. “This so-called rift is a petty game of good cop, bad cop. We will not fall for that.”