Khatami in the United Stated

Mohammad Khatami, the former president of Iran will visit the United States next month. He was in Japan last week. He talked to the Japan’s prime minister on the Iran’s current situation in international community considering its defiant attempts to achieve nuclear power. Khatami told Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that increasing the pressure on Iran fans Mideast fire further. He also clarified that Iran has no plan for Nuclear Bomb. While it seems the Iranian’s respond to the western incentive package has not made the UNSC members satisfied, Khatami tries to convince the other countries that any kind of harsh reaction against Iran will magnify the voice of radicals in Iran.

There are some speculations about his trip. There are some people who believe he shouldn’t come to the US, while he collectively talk about the idea of the dialogue among civilization. Some people believe that the Supreme leader asked Khatami to launch this trip to decrease the huge political pressure on Iran which can be ended with a kind of sanction or a military strike. The logic behind this idea is his pleasing relationship with Ayatollah Khamenie, Iran’s religious leader, during the eight years of his presidency. Ali Larijani, secretariat of Iran’s national security council told reporters on Sunday that West should not go through a lose-lose way. Iran’s latest military maneuver is a signal to the Unites States that any kind of military operation against Iran will make their life miserable in the Middle East. These remarks show that Iran’s aggressive tone is used as a preemptive policy.

Regarding to this speculation, Khatami’s mediation role will base on convincing the US officials by his talks and perhaps small gatherings of some certain influential people in Washington DC and the other cities that he is going to visit. But is it sufficient? I am not sure. There is another speculation based on Khatami and reformist camp’s concern on strengthening the radical Islamist in Iran. Then, Khatami will talk on the effects of the US doctrine in the Middle East on democratic movements in the region. I think Khatami should say why he couldn’t use his power to send this message broadly to the International community and support the reform movement strongly as an active member. By the way Khatami will be in the US next month and I am sure there are many people who are enthusiastic listening him.