by Michael Yoakum
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States – President Obama faces potential diplomatic inroads with Iran, Syria, and Palestine as he prepares to head to the UN General Assembly Monday. With a new President of Iran, progress towards a peaceful disarming of Syria, and restarted talks in Palestine, things are looking much different than last year.

The biggest change is the newly elected President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, who has reopened communication with the United States through his Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif.  While President Obama is not scheduled to meet directly with Rouhani, the two have left open the possibility of talking during the gathering.  Rouhani recently expressed his willingness to meet with the US in an interview.

“The problem won’t be from our side,” Rouhani stated, adding “We have sufficient political latitude to solve this problem.”

Some western diplomats believe Rouhani is taking a big risk by favor diplomatic talks with the US over anti-American rhetoric.  There are concerns that Rouhani could face resistance from hard-liners in Tehran if his approach does not yield an easing of sanctions on Iran.

Ben Rhodes, a deputy White House national security adviser, told reporters that he still believes there is time for a diplomatic solution to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

In line with Rhodes’ view, Rouhani said in an interview with NBC that Iran would never seek to acquire nuclear weapons and he had “sufficient political latitude” to discuss Iran’s nuclear program.  Rouhani derives his new political latitude from statements by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali- Khamenei, who said that diplomacy sometimes calls for “heroic flexibility.”

If Presidents Obama and Rouhani were to meet at the General Assembly, this would be the first time for the US and Iranian heads of state to meet face to face since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

For more information, please see:

The Washington Post – On eve of UN session, Obama finds unexpected diplomatic openings on Iran, Syria, Mideast peace – 22 September 2013

ABC News – 4 Things to Watch for at the UN General Assembly Next Week – 21 September 2013

The Guardian – White House indicates Obama could meet Iran president Rouhani at UN – 20 September 2013

Fox News – Iran’s Rowhani makes new overtures towards the West – 19 September 2013

Reuters – Analysis: Obama may extend his hand to Iran’s Rouhani at U.N. – 19 September 2013

By Brandon Cottrell
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States –  Just weeks after the United States debated whether or not to commence a unilateral military strike on Syria, diplomatic initiatives with Syria, as well as with Iran, have begun.  First, in Syria there are strict deadlines that have Syria surrendering its chemical weapons.  Then, in Iran, there are new talks that would limit the amount of nuclear fuel that Iran could produce.

The White House credits the diplomatic initiatives to luck, years of sanctioning Iran, and “chess moves” executed by President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, and Iran’s mullahs.  Benjamin Rhodes, a U.S. deputy national security adviser, agrees but also credits the U.S.’s selective use of coercion, stating, “that you don’t achieve diplomatic progress in the Middle East without significant pressure.”

Others, however, remain skeptical.  They think that there is a risk of “long negotiations and constant games of hide-and-seek that, ultimately, will result in little change.”  Additionally, they maintain that Syria and Iran believe the U.S.’s reluctance to strike Syria signals “that if diplomacy fails, the chances of military action . . . are slight.”

President Obama, who may meet with Iran’s new president Hasan Rouhani this week said in a recent interview that, “Negotiations with the Iranians is always difficult . . . but, you know, my view is that if you have both a credible threat of force, combined with a rigorous diplomatic effort, that, in fact, you can strike a deal.”  However, It appears that Iran may only be open to coming to an agreement regarding its nuclear capabilities if the international sanctions against it are eased.

Additionally, whether any progress is made, will depend largely on how the U.S. and Iran handle upcoming negotiations that revolve around dismantling Syria’s chemical weapons supply.  Dennis Ross, who is President Obama’s lead adviser on Iran, stated that, “These two situations (Iran and Syria) are deeply intertwined . . . if the Syrians are forced to give up their weapons, it will make a difference to the Iranian calculation and would raise the prospects of some deal with [Iran].”

While it will take some time to truly know if Iran’s interest in diplomacy is real or a mirage, it seems that Syria’s interest is legitimate.  For example, Syria, who had to declare their chemical stocks by this weekend, have already done so, which indicates that there is a real chance for a lasting and successful diplomatic relationship.

For more information, please see:

ABC News – US and Iran Eye Diplomatic Defrosting at UN – 20 September 2013

New York Times – Quick Turn of Fortunes as Diplomatic Options Open Up With Syria and Iran – 19 September 2013

UPI – Diplomatic Options Opening For U.S. In Syria And Iran – 20 September 2013

World News – Syria Declares Its Chemical Weapons Arsenal, First Step In US-Russian Deal – 20 September 2013