Journalist Speaks to College Democrats on U.S.-Iran Relations

Barbara Slavin, distinguished foreign correspondent and author of the book “Bitter Friends, Bosom Enemies: Iran, the U.S, and the Twisted Path to Confrontation” spoke to University students on Wednesday night about U.S-Iranian relations and missed opportunities for reconciliation.  The speech was sponsored by the College Democrats.

“It was interesting. She presented a different picture of global relations than I’m used to hearing on the news,” said freshman Felicia Charles.

“She was fantastic. Iran is not my area of expertise and she had a lot of insight,” said Caitlyn O’Connor, a freshman politics major.

“It’s a pretty bleak landscape,” stated Slavin on the current political situation between the United States and Iran. Slavin is assistant managing editor for World and National Security of the Washington Times and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

“Both Iran and the United States are very proud and nationalistic,” Slavin said.  Slavin referenced events in the past that have strained the “unequal relationship” between the two countries.

In 1953, the U.S. overthrew Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadeq with the help of Great Britain after Mossadeq nationalized what is now British Petroleum, beginning the strain between the two countries. In the Iranian Hostage Crisis during the early 1980s, 52 U.S diplomats were held hostage for 444 days. This move, along with the U,S, support of Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War during the 1980s, only aggravated the relationship between Iran and the U.S.

Despite these altercations, Slavin said Iran has been eager to improve relations. Slavin mentioned several times in her speech that, following 9/11, there were many “spontaneous” demonstrations on the streets of Tehran in support of the U.S.

“When Clinton left office, the trend was positive. The Iranians were excited for George W. Bush,” she said. From the fall of 2001 to May 2003, the United States and Iran met monthly in Switzerland to discuss issues.

“Some Iranian diplomats warned the United States of what may happen in Iraq,” said Slavin referring to the Iraq war. “[The war] was bitterly opposed throughout the Middle East.”

During his State of the Union Address on January 20, 2002, President Bush named Iran as a member of the “axis of evil” along with Iraq and North Korea. “The ‘axis of evil’ speech was very embarrassing,” said Slavin on the reaction of the Iranian people to the speech.

Since President Bush’s speech, “there have been a few concessions here and there, but the preconditions still remain,” Slavin said on US-Iranian talks and negotiations. With the election looming, the possibility for relations to change is present. “The Iranians are more confident. They are in a position now to be willing to engage [in discussion].”

When asked which candidate could better improve relations with Iran, Slavin replied, “It’s a little hard to tell.” Slavin said during her travels in the Middle East during the election, she found a lot of Hillary Clinton supporters. “I don’t think people in the Middle East have huge expectations for McCain or Obama.”

Slavin has traveled to Iran 7 times and was the first U.S. reporter to interview Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Salvin said meeting him “was fairly creepy.”

“He’s a very dogmatic person” Salvin added. He never admits that anything is wrong in his country. He always points the finger at someone else.”

When one student asked if Ahmadinejad will be re-elected, Slavin replied, “The question is whether or not anyone else will catch the imagination of the people.”

About the future of Iran, Slavin said, “Long term, I am optimistic, especially if the U.S. improves diplomatic relations with Iran. [,,,] Seventy percent of the Iranian population is under thirty. The future is certainly with them.”

The last question of the evening was about the origins of Slavin’s interest in Iran. “Iran is my substitute Soviet Union,” said Slavin, who has a B.A. in Russian language and literature from Harvard and  was always  fascinated by the Soviet Union. However, she said, life took her in the direction of Middle Eastern affairs.

After answering student questions, Slavin sat down to sign copies of her book which had been awarded to students during an impromptu election trivia game led by College Democrats Chairman Joe St. George.

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