Tornado Alley (PROG)

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Iran Coaxed into Abandoning Syria [ Morsi attempt ]

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Egypt has been trying to talk Iran into withdrawing its support of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad. President Mohamed Morsi held talks to this effect with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during the recent Non-Aligned summit.

During his meeting with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned summit, President Morsi said that while the conflict in Syria is dragging on, none o the parties seems to be taking the upper hand, so the current deadlock will lead to a split of Syria and severe repercussions for the region. Mohamed Morsi is sure that Syria will be better off without Assad and that a new bloodshed can be avoided if Iran stops supporting the Syrian regime.

Egypt’s proposal was backed by a package of initiatives. Morsi promised to restore diplomatic relations with Iran, which were severed following the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1980. He also pledged to mediate in mending relations between Iran and countries of the Gulf, including the United Arab Emirates. The UAE and Iran have been in dispute over three islands. And the Egyptian president promised to organize Bashar al-Assad’s safe passage from Syria.

The timing for this kind of dialogue couldn’t be better. Experiencing an acute shortage of oil and gas, Cairo has started talks on the purchase of Iranian oil. For Tehran, a new buyer would be more than welcome, amid the US and EU oil embargo. Though the absence of diplomatic relations could impede the signing of oil deals, it won’t make them impossible. Many experts believe, however, that Tehran is resisting the pressure. Oriental Studies expert Boris Dolgov comments.

"Syria and Iran have years-long ties. Persia used to own the territory on which present-day Syria emerged. Iran relies on Syria as an ally in its confrontation with Israel, which threatens Iran. If Israel attacks, Syria will support Iran. Syria also supports Hezbollah in Lebanon and a number of Palestinian groups allied to Iran. Undoubtedly, Iran wants to keep Syria as both an ally and a sovereign regional force."

According to Boris Dolgov, Morsi’s initiatives are “an empty dish”. Restoration of diplomatic relations will probably reduce the chances of an Israeli attack but will not guarantee Iran 100 per cent protection against it. Yevgeny Satanovsky of the Institute of the Middle East believes that Tehran will not accept Morsi’s proposal.

"The de facto impoverished Egyptian president has assumed the role of an emissary of the Persian Gulf countries which are powerless against the Syrian president and want Iran’s help in defeating him. They are just weak against Assad. If Iran wants to retain peace and stability inside the country, it won’t turn its ally in."

It’s unknown whether Ahmadinejad has responded to the proposal from his Egyptian counterpart. Reports say that he is not pressed for time while thinking it over.

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

The Voice of Russia

http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/142150/iran-coaxed-into-abandoning-syria-.html