An Arrogant Approach

As the result of its mismanagement of the crisis and the continuation of its hegemonic and unilateral policies, the United States now faces a deadlock in Iraq. As long as this approach persists, there will not be a clear path out of the present problems there, which mainly grip the innocent Iraqi people.

Only reasonable methods—like adopting an exit plan, transferring power to the Iraqi government, avoiding divisive policies toward Iraqi groups, accepting the blame and ceasing to point the finger at others— will allow the United States to extricate itself from its predicament. The people of Iraq, despite their religious and ethnic differences, have lived together and next to Iranians peacefully for centuries. If the shadow of occupation were lifted from Iraq, they would be able to guide their country toward security, stability and progress.

The heavy shadow of America's unilateralism is also visible on the unresolved question of Palestine, which is one of the gravest tragedies of the 20th and 21st centuries. The U.S. government has succumbed to the demands of the Zionists and the Zionist regime. This is a lethal ailment that afflicts U.S. administrations. The American people do not like to see their leaders fall captive to the Zionist network. Surely the American people would prefer U.S.-inspired policies to those perpetrated by the Zionists. No fair-minded American is happy with the present situation. Regrettably, despite the objections of some of America's elite, personal and political interests—especially those of the present administration—have prevented any action to counter this fatal disease. So long as this situation persists, we will see tyranny and injustice in the region. The U.S. government will bear the heavy responsibility for the Zionist regime's massacre of Palestinian women and children in their homes and territory.

Ever since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the attitude and the approach of the U.S. government toward Iran has also been coercive and unilateralist. America's policy toward Iran's peaceful nuclear program is the most important aspect of this approach. Iran is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a signatory of the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty. It therefore has the right to nuclear fuel cycle technology for peaceful purposes. Yet America, which itself produces nuclear fuel and has a large arsenal of nuclear weapons, has opposed the production of nuclear fuel by Iran for peaceful purposes and under the IAEA inspection. Indeed, the United States has tried to politicize the Iranian nuclear issue and has enticed and threatened other countries into exerting pressure on Iran. How is it that the same country that used the first atomic bomb, killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people, and that is presently spending billions of dollars for the production and testing of the most advanced and destructive armaments, behaves this way toward Iran's peaceful nuclear program? The IAEA has repeatedly declared that there is no evidence that Iran has diverted its nuclear program to military ends, and the Islamic Republic has allowed free access to the Agency's inspectors.

Iran's nuclear program is supported by the entire Iranian nation, at home and abroad. Opposition to this peaceful program will alienate the Iranian people and strengthen their determination to continue it and to reject the illegitimate and illegal demands of the U.S. government.

Resorting to outdated policies such as making threats and imposing sanctions will only lead to more lost opportunities. America's current policies will only increase the hatred of nations toward its administration and further isolate its regime from the world. Friendship with the Iranian people and with all people of the world is a major asset that the U.S. government has deprived itself of.