Iran’s decision to hand over 16 alleged Saudi members of the Al-Qaeda organization, as announced by Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal in media interviews in the US, disproves the claim that Tehran does not take its international responsibilities seriously — in this case its responsibility to combat world terrorism. Indeed, it is not the first case of Tehran handing over to their respective governments foreign nationals it thinks were involved with Al-Qaeda. Earlier this year it was reported to have handed to Kuwait two Kuwaitis seized in raids on Al-Qaeda safe houses in a border province.
All such acts need to be seen in the context of Iran’s desire to build good relations with its Arab neighbors — something that is indeed happening. And, the fact that the seven or so European nationals, also believed to have been seized during those raids, have not been handed over to their governments also is being a seen as a sign. It is read as a political decision flowing from Iran’s extreme discomfort in being seen to cooperate openly with the West.
But all may not be quite what it seems. Statements from authoritative sources that the Iranians have been cooperating not only with Saudi Arabia over events in Afghanistan but also with the US extensively is of enormous significance. In February, it was revealed that the US had provided Tehran with a list of Taleban and Al-Qaeda members allegedly in the country. While denying that the raids and seizures were as a result of the American information, Iran admitted that it had followed it up. .In the event, the significance of such cooperation was lost amid the bitterness that accompanied Washington’s allegations that Iran had given sanctuary to members of Al-Qaeda and President Bush’s accusation that Iran was part of an "axis of evil". Such statements, for which there was no evidence, served only to whip up afresh anti-American feelings in Iran, playing into the hands of hard-liners and undermining the position of President Muhammad Khatami.
Evidently, despite the official animosity, things nonetheless seem to be happening behind the scenes although neither Washington nor Tehran wants to admit them. But what does not makes sense is that both sides should work together yet continue their bitter war of words against each other. Such posturing serves only to reinforce the destructive image the one has of the other, of the US being to Iranians the "Great Satan" and Iran to Americans a promoter of terrorism. Much better to say nothing, allow passions to subside and then start to build a new positive relationship. Such a goal will not be made any easier by the bitter political divisions in Iran. That puts the onus on Washington to take the lead in pouring oil on troubled waters: it is in its interests that Khatami’s moderates win out — without, however, being seen to actively back them. But with Bush’s fixation with making Iran an angle of his "axis of evil", such a possibility does not seem to there yet. Not publicly anyway.
What may be happening behind the scene is a different matter. Relations between nations are not always what they appear to be on the surface. Maybe there are moves to build bridges. It would be an opportunity lost if Washington and Tehran make the mistake of being swayed by their own rhetoric.
