Easing U.S. Sanctions Against Iran Will Bolster the Reform Efforts There

Our opinion: Bolder steps will be needed on both sides to develop better relations.

Washington’s recent move to ease sanctions against Iran was long overdue. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s announcement lifting the ban on non-oil exports and promises of increased efforts to return assets frozen since the 1979 revolution, are a welcome development that will bolster the reform movement led by Iran President Mohammad Khatami.

At the same time, Albright was right to underscore concerns about arms proliferation, terrorism and Iran’s lack of support for the Middle East peace process. Equally important was Albright’s acknowledgment of the “short-sightedness” in some previous U.S. policies toward Iran. And she added there were no obstacles that wise and confident leadership could not remove to establish common interests.

The initial response from Teheran was a cautious welcome, but a week later, Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, slammed the U.S. gesture aimed at improving ties as “deceitful,” saying Iranians could never forget “American injustices.” Clearly, Iran’s leaders are caught in a power struggle between anti-American hard-liners led by Khamenei, and reformers, led by Khatami, who wants better ties with Washington.

Bolder steps will be required before Iran and the United States can put their turbulent relationship behind them. Better relations would help stabilize the region, isolate the current regime of Iraq, deter weapons proliferation and curtail support for terrorism.

Yet there remains a level of confusion in all this. Shortly before Albright’s announcement, President Clinton renewed sanctions prohibiting U.S. citizens from investing in Iran’s oil industry or selling it vital production equipment. This means the easing of sanctions does not cover 1995 restrictions on Iran’s top exports, oil and gas. And this revenue generator is the most vital component in Iran’s efforts to reduce its crippling foreign debt, which is impeding the reform efforts.

Making it legal for Americans to import carpets, caviar and pistachio nuts from Iran does not really help relations. Iranian carpets are already seen in stores, and the “new policies” will do nothing to bring down the price of gasoline in the U.S. or ease Iran’s unemployment and debt crisis.

But by taking the first step toward conciliation, which the Iranians have long insisted upon, and by holding out the prospect of eventual expanded trade, Washington is at least trying to show a desire to begin a political dialogue with Teheran.

Copyright © 2000 Post-Tribune Publishing.

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