The US-Iran nuclear deal has paved the way for some positive developments in the Middle East. However, at the same, it might result in a spillover in the US relations with Saudi Arabia and Israel. For Iran, the deal will change and bring prosperity. International commentators are praising the positive attitude and efforts of newly-elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani for his flexible and reformative approach plus, he is now receiving approbation for nuclear deal. I believe that this deal is not the outcome of the new political leadership but is actually the outcome of supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s changing approach and stance towards the western states.
If we examine Iran’s political structure then we can say that the supreme leader has complete authority over state institutions. He controls and has influence over electoral and non-electoral institutions. Moreover, he also controls four important institutions namely, military, judiciary, expediency council and guardian council. Ironically, supervising assembly of experts which chooses and removes supreme leader and monitors presidency also comes under his domain of excessive power.
Most importantly, supreme leader enjoys substantial influence over state’s foreign policy. Even though, Ministry of Foreign Affairs comes under the domain of the President. Constitutionally, supreme leader is not allowed to intervene in cabinet appointments. But, we had witnessed interventions on few occasions, particularly, when Ali Khamenei gave two options to ex-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2011; either to accept his intervention in cabinet appointment or he should resign. Saeed Kamali Dehghan writes in The Guardian that:
‘An unwritten law requires all officials to always abide by the supreme leader without showing any opposition’.
However, Iranian constitution allows supreme leader to interfere indifferent state affairs. Chapter VIII, Article 110 of Iranian constitution talks about the power of supreme leader:
‘Delineation of the general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran after consultation with the Nation’s Exigency Council. Supervision over the proper execution of the general policies of the system….’
Based on above facts, it is evident now that foreign policy cannot be formulated without the approval of supreme leader. If it goes without approval, then one has to take his decision back or resign. Such power and authority leaves no room of a second thought.
After the Iranian Revolution, the US and Iran experienced major setbacks in their relations. For supreme leader to President, anti-Americanism and Zionism have remained favorite topics in their speeches to appeal the masses with rhetoric. Khamenei was a close man of Iran’s revolutionary leader Ruhollah Khomeini and both shared same views about the US. Khamenei stated:
“We regard the government of the United States of America as an untrustworthy government…which is completely under the influence of the international Zionist network”.
Rouhani has been a good friend of Khamenei since Iranian revolution. So what exactly had happened which forced Iran to go for talks with the US? In 2006, United Nations Security Council sanctioned Iran for uranium enrichment. With the passage of time, more severe sanctions were imposed on Iran till 2012. Consequently, inflation increased by 40%, high rate of unemployment and rapid declination in living standard. Its fragile economy and scarcity of basic resources led Iran in severe crisis. Arguably, these factors forced Khamenei to revise his policies towards West and the US.
It’s a good sign for Iran that Khamenei has realized that Iranians are suffering on behalf of his rigid policies and decisions. Recent agreement between Iran and the US proved it as well.
