The ‘secret’ letter

Pundits around the world suspect that US President Barack Obama will not follow a decisive approach in dealing with Iranian nuclear ambitions.

Not only has he been hesitant to face Iran on this particular issue, he has also been ineffective in his attempt to sway the Iranians to change their course.

Not surprisingly, unless there is a huge price tag, Tehran is likely to keep on attempting to weaken the United States’ influence in the region.

Also, as long as Iranian leaders feel that Obama is toothless in dealing with many issues in the region, particularly with the Syrian regime, they are bound to interpret any diplomatic venture on the part of the US administration as a sign of weakness.

Therefore, Obama’s “secret letter” — if media reports are to be believed — sent to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is a sign of his desperation to get a deal done with the Iranians.

The alleged secret letter reportedly did not contain a warning tone. The letter proved to the Iranians that their stubbornness is paying off.

Some US lawmakers considered the letter “outrageous”.

Two prominent Republican senators, John McCain and Lindsey Graham, said in a joint statement: “The administration needs to understand that this Iranian regime cares more about trying to weaken America and push us out of the Middle East than cooperating with us.”

“The consequences of this ill-conceived bargain would destroy the Syrians’ last, best chance to live in freedom from the brutal Assad regime,” the statement also said.

After six years in office, Obama is yet to prove that he has a strategy for dealing with the various issues of the Middle East.

Regional leaders do not take him seriously due to his hesitancy and lack of leadership.

At the heart of his mistakes lies the Syrian issue. He failed to act in time, when the Syrian regime was on the brink of collapse. His lack of strategy or of commitment to bring about change in Syria only emboldened other players to fight along Bashar Assad.

Not surprising that the Assad regime survived.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday that there would be no link between talks on the Iranian nuclear issue and other issues in the region.

“No conversation, no agreement, no exchange, nothing, has created any kind of deal or agreement with respect to any of the events that are at stake in the Middle East…. There is no linkage whatsoever of the nuclear discussions with any other issue, and I want to make that absolutely clear. The nuclear negotiations are on their own,” said Kerry in Beijing.

One wonders what is the use of Kerry’s meeting with Iran’s foreign minister in Muscat, Oman, on Sunday, ahead of the November 24 deadline for a comprehensive nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers.

What is there for Kerry to convey to the Iranians that he could not convey during official meetings with the six world powers?

The Republican-controlled Congress will be sceptical of any deal Obama might reach with the Iranians.

It remains to be seen whether Obama could avoid the impression that he is pursuing a trade-off with Iran as part of the nuclear deal at the expense of his allies’ interests.

Obama is creating problems even with his Arab allies who have been fighting the Islamic State. 

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