1 Report for

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Daily Report for Monday, September 11, 2017

1 Report for

Monday,

September 11, 2017 Shahrivar 20, 1396

* Highlights. Page 2

* News Briefs. Page 3

* The nuclear bomb that is the Kurdish referendum. Page 3

* Only the West is condemned! Page 3

* “Reviving” First Lady. Page 4

* The JCPOA and future prospect for polarity of int’l system. Page 5

* Korean news corner. Page 8

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2 Highlights

 An Iranian reformist newspaper criticizes what it sees as a biased condemnation of the West, while ignoring similar actions by Russia and China. (See Page 3)

 Although Iran’s nuclear agreement with the P5+1 group of countries, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is an international agreement, which has been also endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, some analysts have opined that the United States may finally withdraw from the deal.

(See Page 5)

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3 Briefs

* Farsi-language Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA) reports that MP and Deputy Chairman of parliament’s Committee for National Security and Foreign Policy says that MPs will start visiting Iranian embassies in Europe and later in Far East from the Iranian month of Mehr [starting September 23].

* Farsi-language Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA) reports that MP and member of parliament’s Committee for National Security and Foreign Policy Hojjatoleslam Mojtaba Zolnori has reacted to Czech Republic’s parliament’s opposition to canceling the law of exporting Czech nuclear equipments to Iran by saying that the Czech Republic has never provided any nuclear equipment. Therefore, he said, the Czech law prohibiting export of nuclear equipment to Iran and its cancellation is meaningless.

* Farsi-language Aftab News website reports that Deputy Interior Minister for Political Affairs Ali Asghar Ahmadi has confirmed that he has resigned from Interior Ministry due to personal reasons. There are speculations that he may go to Ministry of Industry, and that a reformist may replace him at the Interior Ministry.

* Farsi-language Aftab News website reports that prominent cleric Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi says that certain activities by some of Iranian lawyers are contrary to Islamic principles. He specifically said that facilitating divorce between Iranian married couples is “betrayal” of Islam principles.

The nuclear bomb

that is the Kurdish referendum

Farsi-language state-owned newspaper Iran writes that one of the important topics discussed at the OIC meeting in Kazakhstan has been the creation of an independent Kurdish state. Yesterday, the presidents of Iran and Turkey expressed their opposition to holding the referendum for an independent Iraqi Kurdistan. They said that a yes vote would mean disintegration of Iraqi borders and start of huge tensions in the region which would be to the detriment of the regional countries.

This statement is a clearly an expression of their national interests by Tehran and Ankara. Furthermore, there is an international consensus that this event [if it happens]

would be very damaging. Nevertheless, there appears to be a growing inclination among the Kurds towards an independent state. This event affects the regional geopolitics and security, and in particular the security countries with Kurdish populations. Creation of an independent Kurdish country would create irreversible challenges for these countries.

The Middle Eastern countries which would be directly influenced by the referendum’s outcome include Iraq, Syria, Iran, Turkey and even Yemen. The Europeans also remember the events related to Yugoslavia and the ethnic conflict. The Europeans surely understand the situation of the affected countries in the Middle East and relate to these countries.

Only the West is condemned!

Farsi-language reformist newspaper Bahar writes about Iran’s condemnation of the events in Myanmar. First, it writes that the prevalent argument [in Iran] is that Aung San Suu Kyi is the winner of the “Zionist-American”

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Nobel Peace Prize. The argument continues she is engaged in killing the Muslims in Myanmar with the support of Israel, America, UK and Saudi Arabia. No one is noting that she has no role and say in how the Myanmar army acts. This is not say that she cannot be blamed for adopting a passive attitude.

At the same time, no one criticizing Russia and China who oppose exerting any pressure on the Myanmar government. No one [in Iran] is willing to accept that Saudi Arabia has not played any role in what is happening to the Muslims in Myanmar. In fact, Myanmar Muslims’ beliefs are closer to Saudi Arabia rather than Iran’s.

It is clear that a biased interpretation is being presented about the Myanmar incidents at [Iran’s] Friday prayer sermons. If one were to believe what was said at Iran’s Friday prayer sermons and the slogans shouted by the Iranian protesters, America, Israel, UK and Saudi Arabia conspired for killing of Muslims in Myanmar, and that Aung San Suu Kyi is just an American puppet. The protesters in Iran called on the Iranian government to take strong and forceful action regard the Myanmar incident.

The interesting point in all these condemnations and protests is that none of them has condemned Russia and China.

Russia and China have relatively much better and stronger relations with the Myanmar government than the Western governments.

This clearly shows the attitude in Iran that it does not matter what has really happened. Whatever the facts, the West is condemned. The people know what is happening. And if a day comes when the West is truly at fault, then the people [Iranians] would not be accepting the official interpretation that the West is at fault. Such blind anti-Westernism will yield any positive outcome for Iran.

Therefore, we need to reconsider our foreign policies and approaches to such events.

“Reviving” First Lady

Farsi-language reformist newspaper Aftab- e Yazd has proposed that since President Rouhani did not appoint any woman in his current minister, it may be appropriate that his wife would become active politically and socially as the First Lady on behalf of Iranian women.

However, the reformist Elahe Kolaei says that the proposal is correct, but it will remain “a fantasy” because it is incompatible with President Rouhani’s

“family structure”. She said based on what she knows about President Rouhani’s private life and his family, the proposal would not become a reality.

She said it would be more effective to encourage President Rouhani, Vice President for Women’s Affairs [Masoumeh Ebtekar] and other government officials to create appropriate political, social and cultural atmosphere where obstacles to women’s advancement would be removed and they would thrive.

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5 The JCPOA and future prospect for

polarity of the international system

Although Iran’s nuclear agreement with the P5+1 group of countries, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is an international agreement, which has been also endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, some analysts have opined that the United States may finally withdraw from the deal.

These comments show that the JCPOA and the reaction that the international community will show to possible withdrawal of the United States from this

international agreement is one of those cases, which can shed a lot of light on this issue and reveal the truth about it.

As a result, if following the United States’ possible withdrawal from this agreement, the international community, especially the European Union, followed suit with Washington willingly or unwillingly and reviewed its relations with Iran in various fields, then one could assert that the international system is still unipolar in nature, because it is the United States, which can still determine international arrangements according to its own will and despite opposition from other countries.

Proponents of this viewpoint can claim that even now that the JCPOA is being enforced, many big European banks as well as other financial and economic institutions are not willing to have transactions with Iran due to fear of being punished by the United States and this, on its own, is proof enough to the power of the United States and the superpower status it has at international level.

On the opposite, if following the United States’ withdrawal from the JCPOA, the international community, especially the European Union, continued to remain committed to the agreement and expanded its relations with Iran, then one could claim that the unilateral system is history, at least, at the present juncture.

Iran Review news website. Jalil Bayat. Candidate for Ph.D. in International Relations; Tarbiat Modarres University: Although Iran’s nuclear agreement with the P5+1 group of countries, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is an international agreement, which has been also endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, some analysts have opined that the United States may finally withdraw from the deal. Apart from the consequences that such a move would have for the JCPOA and agreements between the two parties, the reaction that the international community, especially the European Union, is expected to show to this

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unilateral measure by the United States, is of high importance. Therefore, the question that can be posed here is what scenarios are imaginable for the future polarity of the international world system as a result of possible withdrawal of the United States from the JCPOA? Given the reaction to be shown by the international community, especially the European Union, to this development, the answer to this question may vary from continuation of a unipolar system to establishment of a multipolar one.

Almost all experts on international relations are unanimous that the international system that was dominant during the Cold War period was a bipolar system.

Following the collapse of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, most analysts believed that the United States will be the sole superpower in the world and the international system will be a unipolar one. This idea was criticized in the later years of the 1990s due to remarkable growth, at least in economic terms, of such countries as Japan and Germany. However the United States’ unilateral invasion of Iraq in 2003, which was not endorsed by the United Nations, once again strengthened the position of those who believed in a unipolar international system.

However, a number of developments have come about in recent years in which the United States has proved ineffective and this issue has once again led to debates about a uni-multipolar and even a multipolar world system. During the crisis of Ukraine, the United States was practically only a by-stander and it has been one of the most important cases raised by critics and opponents of a unipolar world system. On the other hand, the United States’ inability to achieve its goals during crises that plagued Arab countries, especially Syria, was another example cited by some experts on international relations as a proof to the end of the unipolar world system.

However, opponents of this viewpoint have mentioned the wide gap that exists between the United States and other countries in military, economic and cultural terms as a reason for the existence of a unipolar international system. These comments show that the JCPOA and the reaction that the international community will show to possible withdrawal of the United States from this international agreement is one of those cases, which can shed a lot of light on this issue and reveal the truth about it.

As a result, if following the United States’ possible withdrawal from this agreement, the international community, especially the European Union, followed suit with Washington willingly or unwillingly and reviewed its relations with Iran in various fields, then one could assert that the international system is still unipolar in nature, because it is the United States, which can still determine international arrangements

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according to its own will and despite opposition from other countries. Proponents of this viewpoint can claim that even now that the JCPOA is being enforced, many big European banks as well as other financial and economic institutions are not willing to have transactions with Iran due to fear of being punished by the United States and this, on its own, is proof enough to the power of the United States and the superpower status it has at international level.

On the opposite, if following the United States’ withdrawal from the JCPOA, the international community, especially the European Union, continued to remain committed to the agreement and expanded its relations with Iran, then one could claim that the unilateral system is history, at least, at the present juncture. For this proposition to come true, measures taken by the United States should not be able to bar Iran from being benefited by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in various fields. This means that all non-American public and private companies and banks must be able and willing to enter into trade exchanges with Iran freely and without any fear of the United States’ punitive measures. In that case, one can confirm that the international system is of a multipolar nature and any unilateral measure by any country, even the most powerful one, cannot be determining.

From this viewpoint, possible withdrawal of the United States from the JCPOA would provide the European Union with a historic opportunity (or threat?) to clarify its real standing in the international system. Will Europe, along with China and Russia, be able to give credit to the viewpoint of those who support a multilateral international system? Will the United States be willing to cause the international community to have more doubts about cooperation with Washington for stabilizing the existing world order through its unjustified withdrawal from the JCPOA?

Perhaps, the answer to these questions will come to the light in October when it is time for the US president to reaffirm Iran’s compliance with its commitments as per the JCPOA.

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8 Korean news corner

 Farsi-language state-owned Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reports that China has carried out a military drill in East Sea. There are no reports about exactly where and when the drill took place. Global Times website has reported that it was a big maneuver. Meanwhile, Japan has also announced that Japan and America have carried out joint aerial drills over East Sea. Japan seeks to change the name East Sea to Sea of Japan, something that can aggravate tensions between Japan and South Korea and China. Japan has recently called on its nationals to inform it immediately if they find a document that refers to the East Sea as Sea of Japan. There is a lot of contention over East Sea between Tokyo, South Korea and China. The Koreans have laid claim to some of the islands [in the East Sea] calling them Dokdo. Japan says that East Sea has been named as Sea of Japan since the nineteenth century.

 Farsi-language reformist newspaper Etemad writes that United States has called on the United Nations Security Council to convene a meeting for voting on a draft resolution imposing more sanctions against North Korea.

 Farsi-language reformist newspaper Ghanoon writes that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered North Korean scientists to strengthen his country’s forces and nuclear capabilities.

 Farsi-language reformist newspaper Shargh reports that German Chancellor Angela MarKelle has offered German participation in any future nuclear talks with North Korea and suggested that the 2015 agreement with Iran could serve as a model for negotiations. She says deal with Iran could be a blueprint for a process in which Germany and Europe would play a very active part.

 Farsi-language Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) reports that Associated Press news agency reports that North Korea has warned that if American proposal for more severe sanctions against North Korea is approved by the United Nations Security Council, then America would pay a heavy price.

 Farsi-language conservative newspaper Jomhouri Islami reports that Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson has rejected any military option to resolve the

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North Korea situation. The spokesperson stressed that a peaceful solution is the only correct way.

 Farsi-language state-owned Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reports that South Korean President Moon Jae-in has met with former UN Secretary Genreal Bank Ki-Moon to discuss ways to resolve the North Korean issue and other problems as well. It writes that Yonhap news agency writes that the meeting takes place before President Moon’s schedule to attend an upcoming UN General Assembly meeting.

 Farsi-language Aftab News writes that The Guardian newspaper reports that there are no indications that the North Koreans have grown tired [of the situation their country is in]. Rather, there are plenty of indications that the North Korean people still hate the Americans. It also quotes The Guardian as saying that there is no food on their table, while the government officials are getting fatter due to bribes.