Current Turmoil’s of Middle East Part II

Current Turmoil’s of Middle East

Part II

In late April 2014 one of the prominent international news items was the USA refusal to grant visa to Hamid Abdutalebi, a senior political advisor to President Hassan Rouhani.   Mr Abdultalebi was to be Iran’s newly appointed permanent United Nation representative.  Whilst it is true that the United Nation building is in New York on US soil two questions needs to be addressed.  He first of these is what legal right or rights does the US relies upon for such a refusal?  The second question is the scope and width of the US’ alleged right to setting dangerous and politically based precedent that affects  sovereign countries nominated representatives to set foot in the US and the UN?  

The stated reason for the US’ action is Mr Abdultalebi’ alleged involvement in the student storming of the US Iranian embassy in Tehran in 1979 after Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran and took power in 1979.  The hostages were held for 444 days and were released immediately after Ronald Regan was elected as President and took office in 1980.  Mr Abdultalebi’ reply to the allegation is that he was acted as interpreter to the students on couple of occasions.  The US posted a picture showing Mr Abdultalebi in 1979 outside the US Tehran embassy.

In the last blog on the topic (Part I) I made the point that the Iranian still holds significant grudges and anxiety about the CIA role and involvement in the coup that toppled prime Minister Muhammad Massadegh in 1953.  Those grudges came into open in the storming of the US Tehran embassy.  The reality is that the so called ‘students’ who stormed the embassy were seasoned Iranian secret agents.  They grilled the embassy staff about secretive operations and accused them of being spies.  The Iranian interrogators wasted no time reminding the staff of the US involvement in the coup that toppled Muhammad Massadegh in 1953 and installed the Shah.  The US was helpless and saw this as humiliation that became exceedingly more bitter by failed attempted rescue mission when two helicopters crashed head on in the desert killing and injuring some 15 commandos.  Political observers saw this botched rescue mission as the reason for President Jimmy Carter loss to Ronald Regan.

How can the US legally justify refusing Mr Abdultalebi visa? A rushed Bill that was passed by Congress that would bar anyone from entering the US as a member country representative to the UN was presented to President Obama to sing and became a law.  President Obama did sign the Bill.  The relevant section of the Bill that will bar Mr Abdultalebi setting foot on US soil is aimed at barring anyone who had engaged in espionage or terrorist activities and still pose a threat to national security from entering US.  No prizes to those guessing who decides this threat to US.

US needs to forget and perhaps forgive the 1979 storming of its Iranian Embassy and Iran needs to forget and forgive the US role in the toppling of Muhammad Massadegh painful as this may be to both countries.  Beside this still existing angst there is nothing preventing normal and healthy respectful diplomatic relationship between the two countries.  The alternative is for a move to relocate the UN to another country perhaps in the Middle East!