Talks fuel fears over US concessions to Tehran

What the Arabic-language press is saying about the talks in Oman between Iran and the P5+1

The Sultanate of Oman has been adept at maintaining a long tradition of zero problems with its neighbours, wrote columnist Amin Qamourieh in an article for the Lebanese daily Annahar. Its neutral position has allowed it to bring Tehran and Washington to the negotiating table, using its good standing with both parties to try to find a way out of the nuclear impasse.

Qamourieh wrote: “The sultanate is determined to set the groundwork in place for an entente between Iran and the US.”

Tehran has been weighed down by economic sanctions. It has been left drained after having to pay a hefty cost for its involvement in the Syrian war and for its policies in the Middle East, the writer opined.

If Iran has learnt anything from past experiences, it’s that relying entirely on Moscow doesn’t make up for losing all ties with the West.

Moscow, too, isn’t comfortable with the idea of a nuclear-armed Iran, because it might threaten its clout over the Caspian Sea and parts of Central Asia. It has showed in the past its preparedness to bargain over its ally and has approved some sanctions against Iran at the UN Security Council.

“Iran has waited patiently to secure an agreement that would deliver it from sanctions in exchange for transparency in its nuclear programme,” the writer said.

“With victory so near, it is not about to miss the chance of a return to the bosom of the international community.”

The White House is looking to seal a deal that would dull the sharp blow it received in last week’s congressional elections. The US sees no harm in a de-clawed Tehran that doesn’t pose any threat to Israel’s security or to the region’s vital oil passageways.

President Barack Obama seems eager to turn a new leaf with Iran and to reinvigorate the old alliance Washington had with Tehran before the Shah was deposed, suggested the Saudi columnist Abdulrahman Al Rashid in the pan-Arab daily Asharq Al Awsat.

“However, we in the Middle East have serious issues with these talks, mainly regarding the secrecy in which they have been shrouded. The Obama administration has been careful to hide any communication with Tehran, even from its regional allies, namely most of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Turkey, Egypt and Israel,” he observed.

Another issue is the US administration’s lack of credibility when it comes to agreeing to concessions. Despite promises to the contrary, Washington has agreed to a series of concessions related to the embargo and Iranian frozen funds.

The third and most significant issue from the regional perspective is Iranian demands for wider-ranging powers in the region. Although Washington has denied acquiescing to such terms, the powers that be in the region can’t help but feel tormented at the prospect of an unbridled Iran that could wreak more havoc.

“Iran’s nuclear project in itself is a source of concern as well. The US shows signs of recanting its repeated former pledges to block the Iranian regime from ever possessing the capability to manufacture nuclear weapons,” Al Rashid noted.

Translated by ­Racha Makarem