Abutalebi’s Mission Was to Improve Relations with US

The US government has finally announced that it would not issue a visa to Hamid Abutalebi as Iran’s proposed permanent representative to the United Nations. The Islamic republic of Iran has called the denial a violation of the international rules between the UN and the US and its foreign ministry announced that Iran would file a complaint with the UN itself.

Abutalebi is currently the political deputy of the president who is considered by the US to have had a role in the takeover of the US embassy in Tehran in the early eighties when American embassy diplomats were held hostage for 444 days. Abutalebi says he was merely a translator for the hostage takers.

Rooz Online spoke with Saeed Leylaz, a journalist and member of the governing group of the Kargozaran Party (Reconstruction) which supports the government of Hassan Rouhani on the new disagreement between the US and Iran.  He believes Abutalebi is another version of Mohammad Zarif, the current US educated foreign minister and adds that he is the best diplomat in Iran’s diplomatic cadre and the most suitable person for the post. He believes Abutalebi’s mission is to improve Iran-US relations and reduce the tensions between the two countries. He is someone who enjoys the support of the top Iranian leadership.

Here are the excerpts of the interview.

Rooz: The Americans have announced they will not issue a visa for Abutalebi, but why was such a person chosen for this post when Rouhani’s announced policy is to reduce tensions with the world, including the US.

Leylaz: With what I have learned in the last two weeks, I am disappointed that the Americans rejected him and have come to feel better about the acumen of Mr. Rouhani and Mr. Zarif. This is because first of all Mr. Abutalebi is a longstanding diplomat, then he is well educated and is a cleric, and finally his views are very clear. In short, if he were accepted to the UN post as Iran’s permanent representative, then he would act exactly contrary to what is claimed about him. My personal guess is that his mission is to improve Iran-US relations or at the least reduce the tensions between the two. As far as I know, his selection has been approved by the supreme leader and so I think his selection was seen as a positive step towards resolving the differences between the two countries. In short, I will say that Abutalebi is like Zarif, so the mistake this time is on the US side not here.

Rooz: You say you have learned of Mr. Abutalebi in the last few weeks while the Americans know him from the hostage taking days of the 1980s and have denied him a visa because of his role in that event.

Leylaz: I disagree. The Americans are now busy with their domestic issues. Abutalebi has worked in the US, in Italy, Britain and other places. He has very clear views on international affairs and relations with the US. Their current objection to him because of his association with the hostage event – something they did not raise when he was there earlier – indicates that the Americans have a problem. In any case I say the ball is in the US field now and that Iran has made a good choice. American public opinion needs to be corrected about Abutalebi, but they seem to have made their decision. In other words, I believe his case has suffered because of the domestic US politics.

Rooz: Don’t you agree that the hostage taking of the American diplomats in the 1980s is still a very sensitive issue in the US?

Leylaz: They probably are sensitive but the issue is that he has worked in the US in the past. Won’t you agree with the idea that the Americans would accept someone who believes in tensions between the US and Iran much easier than someone who used to be a translator in the hostage taking event. If Barry Rosen could meet with Abbas Abdi and talk why can’t America with Abutalebi? If interests are the driving force in international relations that remain permanent and not friendships or animosities, what America is saying about Abutalebi is just an excuse which would work against the reformists in Iran. It is perplexing that whenever the Americans wanted to make headway in relations with Iran, they took steps that were against the reformers and in favor of conservatists in Iran. This rejection is no exception in this regard.

Rooz: So now that the US has rejected him, why is Iran saying it will not present another person?

Leylaz: Nothing serious will happen if Abutalebi does not get a visa to go. The current acting representative will continue his work. Eventually a new person will be presented. This is an important post for all countries and most permanent representatives, or US ambassadors, eventually become foreign ministers of their own country. What is more important is that we are losing a good opportunity to send someone to the US whose views are very clear. Just look what Mr. Zarif has accomplished in the last eight months, using his Facebook. He has been more effective in reducing tensions between Iran and the West more than any other diplomatic activity. Mr. Abutalebi can do the same. Those who know him closely hold a very clear view of him. He was an opportunity for Iran-US relations, aside the Iran-UN relations.

Rooz: But is it right to present a person who has had some issues in the past?

Leylaz: This has no geopolitical importance, but only limited political gain. What is important is that we are not trying to mock the US. Abutalebi has been a diplomat for over 30 years and has worked in a number of foreign countries, including the US. I think the Americans are looking for an excuse. To say that Iran has deliberately chosen this person so he can act negatively is not true from what we know of his views towards the West. The fact that the leadership of Iran’s political system has agreed on Abutalebi is a very important message.

Rooz: What message?

Leylaz:  To reduce tensions. To be more specific, Iran is moving towards relaxation of tensions in its foreign relations. America is the only country that can influence Iran. This may sound like common sense, but it is extremely important. At the same time, the US is the only country that can harm Iran. No other single country in the world can do this. This is the power the US has over many other countries. For us relations with the UN are important also because we do not have relations with the most important country in the world. This is why we try to send our best there. We have always sent our best diplomats to the US in any Iranian administration, even Ahmadinejad’s.

Rooz: So you think Abutalebi was the best choice?

Leylaz: Yes. He knows his profession, he is knowledgeable and believes in the relaxation of tensions between Iran and the US. More importantly, he has worked at Iran’s UN mission in the US in the past. But the US has shown that this record is of no importance. The Americans made a mistake, they acted hastily and this haste was launched by Congress.