The Consequences of Engaging with Iran

Picture from Flickr used under a Creative Commons license.

Kim Ghattas writes for BBC News  about the fine line the White House walks when discussing election protests, and the regime's response, in Iran. Obama will be forced by his own constituencies in America to speak out as police beatings and tear gassing becomes more violent. However, the more support Obama lends to the opposition, the more he actually hurts it because of the way that America is perceived in the country. According to Ghattas, "the challenge has been threefold:

• keeping faith with the hundreds of thousands of Iranians who have taken to the streets without undermining their credibility in a country where the US is routinely called the "great Satan"
• condemning the violence used to quell the protesters without cutting off all chances of talks with Iran should the current leadership remain in power
• maintaining a cautious tone in referring to the protesters without ending up on the wrong side of history should the opposition emerge on top at the end of the struggle"

However, Obama's overtures to negotiate with Iran no matter who the president is has changed the political tone inside the country, removing one of the hardliners' strongest supports and creating space for greater debate. Now, it is unclear what the results for Iran will be and whether Obama will be able to negotiate with the country's leader.