`Internal and External Struggles` of the Hatami Administration in Iran

The reformist Mohammad Hatam`s administration in Iran, is being challenged both internally and externally with internal expansion of anti government demonstrations along with being under suspicion for nuclear development programs. There has been debate between many parties concerning the resoluteness and moderation of policies against Iran even within the U.S. government.

Iran`s Violation of the Nuclear Pact

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) opened its general conference on June 16 and has entered into a five–day discussion session over the issue of a recent debate of Iran`s nuclear development program.

AFP Communications conveyed that the IAEA Director General, Mohammad ElBaradei said that “Iran did not conform to the obligatory articles of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)” based on the results of a nuclear investigation of the country having been conducted for the past five months since February of this year.

Accordingly, it has been predicted that the board of governors of IAEA will either choose a resolution or a joint statement requesting even more continuous and intense investigations in Iran or request that Iran accept unexpected nuclear investigations.

According to a draft obtained by AFP Communications, Iran did not report its importation of 1.8 tons of uranium from China in 1991.

However, AFP communicated that western correspondents reported that the IAEA is not going to bring forward this violation issue to the UN Security Council.

Debate between liberals and moderates in the U.S.

The United States is having a heated discussion over the priority and method regarding the policies against Iran. The Washington Post reported on June 15, “Secretary of State General Colin Powell focuses on a resolution through a peaceful talk with reformation of the Iranian government but on the other hand, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stresses finding a way to weaken the authoritative Iranian government by squeezing it a bit.”

Washington Post reported that the State Department and the moderates have examined the plan for exchanging nuclear weapons with economic support modeling the Geneva Nuclear Pact between the United States and North Korea in 1994. They however, faced strong opposition from Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary Rumsfeld along with other hawks.

The two argue that to make a diversified plan effective politically, militarily and diplomatically, it must be able to weaken the Iranian administration so that Iran nuclear development can be hindered.

There even has been some limited movement among those in Congress that the United States must actively engage in establishing democracy in Iran by promoting the democratization of Iran.

In relation to this, President George W. Bush`s statement that he “thinks positively about the Iranians calling for a `Free Iran,`” made on June 15 regarding the democracy demonstration in Iran has attracted interest.

In the meantime, the United States has been restraining from making statements as not bring suspicion on the demonstrators in Iran from secretly communicating with the U.S., so as not to isolate the country from international politics.

Dualistic Power Structure of Iran

One of the reasons why the United States is struggling with its policy against Iran lies in the dualistic power structure of Iran. While the administration is controlled by a President (4 year term) who is elected by the votes of citizens, the judicature is directed by Ayatoli Ali Hamenei, who was selected as the highest leader by all religious leaders in 1989. Because the highest leader is an office for life, the ultimate decision lies with him.

Iran is therefore continually struggling between conflicts between its civil leaders who are promoting reformation, and clergymen who are trying to protect religious traditions. Because students who support the Hatami administration are now calling for the withdrawal of the Hatami administration along with the recent poor progress in the administration, its foundation has weakened.

Eun-Taek Hong euntack@donga.com