AFTER months of negotiations, stalemates, semi breakthroughs and tired faces, Iran signed a deal that will effectively change its status on the international stage. In it, the Islamic Republic promises to take all steps to assure the world that it will only utilise its nuclear energy for civilian usage and not develop nuclear weapons. In exchange the decades long sanctions against Iran will be gradually lifted. The other signatories of this are the P5 + 1, constituting of Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Germany.
The smiling faces of each country’s foreign minister says it all: this is a historic event. The work was done primarily by them. The particular role played by Iran’s foreign minister is worthy of mention. Mohammad Javad Zarif with his bashful smile has successfully endeared to the press and his colleagues. US Secretary of State John Kerry too has worked tirelessly on a countless number of drafts and compromises of the deal. Seen to be sympathetic to Iran due to his Iranian son-in-law, he has had to placate Iran’s ally Israel and assure the US senate of Iran’s harmless relationship with nuclear energy.
The world is dealing with a different Iran today. We are a far cry from the Iran of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his belligerent stance against the West. Since Hasan Rouhani was elected president, he is someone the West can “do business with”, as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had once described Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev during the years of the Cold War. The Cold War with Iran seems to be melting and we are now witnessing the reestablishment of the country as a serious ally in the region. Not bad for a former member of the “Axis of Evil”. The timing of the deal cannot be riper.
The need to have a “friendly” Iran had become even more urgent in the face of an incredibly unstable and hostile Middle East. The rise and expansion of Islamic State (IS) has made it almost impossible for the West to keep dismissing Iran as a pariah state. As one of the most stable and influential countries in the region, Iran will be an important ally in the fight against Daesh, the Arabic name for IS. IS is spreading an extreme version of Islam that also targets Shia Islam, the official and majority religion of Iran and its people. The seriousness of US’ overtures towards Iran could not be a clearer indicator of the West’s intentions — to gain a serious ally in the region, strong and capable to respond effectively to the IS threat. Even Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, who based a substantial part of his election campaign on an anti-Iran ticket, has said it was necessary to make a deal with Iran.
The deal however will not solve all issues pertaining to Iran. The country’s heavy involvement in Lebanon through Hezbollah will continue to worry Israel and affect the region’s general stability. Time will tell if the deal will improve cooperation or at the very least change the way in which Iran involves itself in the conflicts of the Middle East.
Since the deal’s conclusion, there have been celebrations on the streets of Teheran. Iranians see this episode as a new dawn for their country. Tourism is expected to rise as the sanctions will also lift restrictions on money exchange and usage of foreign credit cards in the country. I visited Teheran a few years ago and was struck by the fact that only cash was accepted, even for my hotel. Since then I have not taken for granted the ease in which I can use my credit card abroad. For international businesses, this would mean seeking opportunities, of which there are plenty, and investing in the country.
And what would this mean for Malaysia? Malaysia was not exempt from the sanctions. As such, there has been very little economic closeness or exchanges between the two countries.
This may seem strange in light of the thousands of Iranians working, studying and living in Malaysia. It is not unusual to hear Persian being spoken around Ampang and seeing manteau-wearing Iranian women doing their shopping at most supermarkets in the area. Perhaps KL is Teherangeles (named for the many Iranians living in Los Angeles) on a smaller scale. Malaysia has been a safe haven for Iranians seeking opportunity and refuge outside their country. Without the need for visas, Iranians have been taking advantage of this for many years. As citizens of the republic, their travel is extremely restricted. With the deal going through, this will change and Malaysia will no longer be the only choice for Iranians. As the sanctions lift, Malaysia will also be able to take full advantage of the opening up of business opportunities and the possibility of developing a keen new market for Malaysian products. Thanks to the country’s familiarity in dealing with Iranians and the government in Teheran, it could play an important role spearheading investments and economic cooperation with other Southeast Asian countries. This would be a fantastic opportunity to showcase a new turn in Malaysia’s foreign policy — bold, dynamic and open to global developments, despite being a relatively small player internationally.
Iran is on the verge of a new era. Years of sanctions have made the country very self-reliant and proud. The deal is going to make the republic change this persona and become an involved participant rather than a regional bogeyman. Its role is going to be recast and the way things are heading, it is going to be an exciting time for Iran and the world it inhibits.
The writer is a Graduate Teaching Assistant and doctoral candidate at the University of Oxford