In his first address to the United Nations since securing an historic nuclear deal with the P5+1 powers, President Hassan Rouhani spent much of his speech extolling the agreement’s diplomatic success and the positive effects it will have on Iran and the Iranian people. He even went so far as to commend the United States’ role in helping to bring the deal to fruition. “I say to all nations and governments: We will not forget the past, but we do not wish to live in the past,” hinting at both the obstacles and opportunities ahead.
During the address, the president also covered a number of other topics, including calling for a united front against Islamic State and for a resolution in Syria – a move that suggested that the Iranian leadership, or at least the president, is keen for Iran to increase diplomatic ties with the international community. However — on a less than positive note — Rouhani refused to engage with any real human rights issues in Iran during his time in New York, including the continued imprisonment of three Iranian-American citizens. This has left numerous human rights activists and the families of political prisoners frustrated and angry.
Now that the dust from Rouhani’s speech and the historic handshake between President Barack Obama and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the UN has had time to settle, IranWire spoke with a number of experts, including human rights activists, politicians and academics, to get their take on Iran’s most pressing subjects: Rouhani’s speech, the nuclear deal, the human rights situation in Iran, jailed US citizens, investment in Iran and of course, the handshake.
The Speech
“In his speech President Rouhani reached out to the international community in a renewed effort to demonstrate that Iran is ready to strengthen its engagement as a constructive and reliable member of the international community,” says UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed. “He cited favorable political, economic and social indicators of progress in Iran, despite years of multilateral and unilateral sanctions imposed on the country and Tehran’s willingness to reach a respectable agreement with the P5+1 members on resolution of the nuclear issue. However, he didn’t reference the human rights situation inside Iran.”
“Rouhani really didn’t have anything to say that warranted attention. He didn’t bring any initiative or policies that deserved discussion,” said Hadi Ghaemi, director of the International Campaign on Human Rights in Iran. “He only spoke in generalities. His speech didn’t give any indication that he actually has a domestic policy beyond economic issues.”
The Handshake
“I think even with those nations and individuals with whom we have great differences, an element of civility is always helpful,” said US Congressman Dan Kildee. “If we’re able to shake hands despite dramatic disagreement that will continue to provide the space for conversation.”
“It was nothing more than a courtesy of diplomacy,” said Sir Richard Dalton, an associate fellow at Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. “It implies no change in positions of substance and doesn’t change the mood of relations. The idea that Iran can negotiate with the US on non-proliferation, but that the usual courtesies won’t go beyond foreign minister level, is far-fetched. After all, the American and Iranian Presidents have corresponded.”
Political Prisoners
“The visit was highly orchestrated and there was a complete attempt by him and his team to shield him from any detailed discussion of domestic affairs. Therefore, he kept his position on pressing domestic issues such as the fate of political prisoners or dual nationals in jail pretty much unknown,” said Hadi Ghaemi. “I’m afraid that he has completely left the fate of political prisoners to the Revolutionary Guards and intelligence agencies that have been holding them, and the judiciary that is responsible for keeping them behind bars.”
“It’s clear to me that he was also of the view that it was important to resolve the question, and that it would be beneficial to both the US and Iran to somehow resolve this issue. I had some assurance that he was committed to continuing to work with the United States on this,” said US Congressman Dan Kildee. I did also ask him if he had a specific message for the family of Amir Hekmati. He reiterated that they are committed to trying to find a solution, and that they were hopeful that we would be able to find a way to resolve this issue. I wouldn’t say that I was overly encouraged — but I was certainly happy to hear that he was open to discussion.”
The Nuclear Deal
“To be sure, the nuclear agreement is a watershed moment for Iran and its international partners, a great achievement for President Rouhani and his administration, and an indicator of Tehran’s willingness to seek a peaceful resolution to a longstanding conflict,” said UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed. “I have acknowledged this, and congratulated all parties to the negotiation, and especially Iran, for reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. I am particularly hopeful that the lifting of economic sanctions will have a beneficial “multiplier effect” on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights in the country.”
"I believe the Rouhani government is eager to explore cooperation with the United States now that the nuclear agreement is nearing implementation. There is much that divides the two countries, but for now at least they can engage each other on issues such as Syria,” said Alireza Nader, a senior international policy analyst. ”While Iran and the United States are likely to remain competitors, their relations are becoming more manageable, rather than being defined by intractable hostility."
"It is increasingly clear that President Rouhani’s priority is to cash in on his two-year diplomatic investment by ensuring effective implementation of the nuclear accord and rapid unshackling of the country’s economy,” said Ali Vaez, Senior Analyst at the International Crisis Group. “Socio-political reform appears to remain in the back burner for the remainder of his first term in office. Given low oil prices and delayed sanctions relief, the economic situation will get worse before it gets better.”
Post-Sanctions Investment
“One of the points I’ve been making at every opportunity is to explain that the extent to which sanctions relief will mean direct investment and increased global economic presence in Iran is largely going to be affected by how Iran behaves,” said US Congressman Dan Kildee. “If Iran continues to hold innocent individuals as prisoners, that will have a chilling effect on global industry that want to have a presence in Iran — because it would mean that maybe one of their individuals from those companies could be subject to the same treatment. Iran is going to have accept the reality that if they expect significant benefits from sanctions relief in the form of outside investment, they’ve got to change their behavior.”
“If we get a widespread presence of businesses and communities in Iran, it will be a new window of opportunity to use businesses to make sure that these businesses do not empower and enrich the corrupt existing companies in Iran that are controlled especially by the Revolutionary Guards’ interests,” said Hadi Ghaemi, director of the International Campaign on Human Rights in Iran. “We also have to make sure that these businesses follow ethical business practices and do not exasperate discrimination in employment and lack of labor rights and they do not reinforce the deficiencies of the Iranian economy and the labor market.”
Human Rights in Iran
“Human rights are fundamental to the well-being, progress and stability of a country and there is much that should be done in Iran, which it is clearly hard to do at present,” said Sir Richard Dalton, an associate fellow at Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. “ I hope Rouhani will move the domestic situation from where it is now but there are others in Iran with a say in how this is done and when."
“In order to truly gain the trust of the international community, Iran must honor its human rights obligations. Respect for the rule of law requires not only diplomatic acumen in resolving international disputes, but it also necessitates addressing the most fundamental concerns of your citizenry,” said UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed. “It requires not only transparency in allowing inspectors to visit nuclear sites in the country, but also increasing cooperation with UN rights bodies and experts. President Rouhani and his administration can play a key role in advancing the cause of human rights in Iran by taking concrete steps to fulfil his presidential campaign promises, including the enactment of a Citizen Rights Charter.”
Related articles:
Rouhani at the UN: "We will not forget the past, but we will not live in the past”
“Iran Must Change its Behavior if it Wants Global Investment”
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