Protecting Iranian interest in the persian gulf

By: Morteza Aminmansour

Protecting Iranian interest in the Persian Gulf region:


Since the 1960s with the rise of Arab nationalism (Pan-Arabism), starting with Gamal Abdel Nasser's Arab Republic of Egyptt, some Arab countries, including the ones bordering the Persian Gulf, have adopted the term "Arabian Gulf" to refer to the waterway. This is controversial and not commonly used outside of the Arab world, nor is it recognized by the United Nations and other international organizations. The United Nations on many occasions has requested that only "Persian Gulf" be used as the official and standard geographical designation for the body of water. Iranian will never forget the threat of Nasser’s speech referring to its rival countries such as Israel and Iran. He said he would eat his breakfast in Israel and the lunch in Iran.
The Greek traveller of the 1st century A.D. has called the Red Sea as Arabian gulf; the Indian ocean has been named Aryateria Sea; the waters at Oman Coast is called Pars Sea; Barbarus region (between Oman and Yemen coast are called belonging to Pars, and the Gulf located at south side of Iran is named: Persian Gulf. By describing the water body, the life of Persians living at both sides have also been confirmed. Most recently, at the Twenty-third session of United Nation in March-April 2006, the name "Persian Gulf" was confirmed again as the legitimate and the official term to be used by members of United Nation.
The correct term for the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) is the Persian Gulf Arab States Cooperation Council. The Persian Gulf sits on top of the greatest pool of oil reserves in the world. Over the past few decades, it has been the site of two major wars (Iraq invaded Iran between 1980-88 and the Iraq invaded Kuwait) and the Islamic revolution, and political and economic developments that have affected every country in the world including the politic in the Persian Gulf Region. It is also the home of more than 118 million Muslims people, whose cultures extend back to the origins of recorded history. Now in the recent years western countries and United States were concern about Persian Gulf region and its security.
The three main problems likely to bedevil Persian Gulf security over the next several years will be Iraq's security dilemma because of American invasion , Iran's nuclear weapons program which will be resoleved in near future , and potential internal unrest in the countries of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC): Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia (unemployment and social disparity,Execution of political prisoners , Misstreatment of women ), and the United Arab Emirates(bad threatment of foreign worker and also socisial disparity within the federation and raising the cost of living, increasing the number of political prisoners, torture and bad treament of prisoners,domestic violance ,Bad treatment of women as second class in the socialty). These problems offer no easy answers separately, let alone together. Difficult tradeoffs will have to be made.
Resolving potential sources of conflict with the Arab world is not only in Iran’s strategic and economic interest also in the best interest of Arabs sough of the Persian Gulf as well. Iran has worked hard since 1997 to improve its relations with the Arab world and this effort has been partially successful because of the foreign policy of Khatami). Preserving and improving these relations is in Iran’s long-term interest. Iran should choose a strategy for protecting the name of Persian Gulf that will be compatible with this objective. Negotiation and direct talks with the Arab world should come as the priority of Iranian foreign policies before threats and boycotts. We have to remember that in USA and the rest of the world the global economy built over the past 50 years rests on a foundation of inexpensive, plentiful oil. If that foundation were removed, the global economy would collapse. This Fondation is setting of the lands in Persian Gulf countries , which are having difficulties because of human right abuses and other serious issues (Saudi Arabia , UAE).


It is true that 25 percent of the world's oil production comes from the Persian Gulf, with Saudi Arabia alone responsible for about 15 percent. The Persian Gulf has as much as two-thirds of the world's proven oil reserves, and its oil is absurdly economical to produce. Saudi Arabia has a majority of the world's excess production capacity, and it increases or decreases production to stabilize and control prices. Destabilization of saudi’s regime would be a great danger for the world economy and also for the region itselfes. The sudden loss of the Saudi oil network enen for a short period of time would send the price of oil through the ceiling, probably causing a global downturn at least as devastating as the Great Depression of the 1930s that we experienced. .It is in the best interest of Iran in long term to cooperate with the countries in the persian gulf also for them to stay on the same Route with Iran. That would be beneficial for Arabs and also Iranian with 70 million people the largest country in the Region in population and area.

The Iranian people are deeply unhappy with the current Government and its reactionary clerics who cling to power in Tehran, and since 1997 they have voted consistently and overwhelmingly against the hard-liners and they are mostly in favour of more moderate and understandable government . Iran's population is young (half of the population were born after revolution , and the Iranian youth most strongly oppose the current regime and favor a more democratic system of government. Thus time is on the side of Iran's reformers, most of whom have expressed an interest in good relations with the United States and the rest of the world (especially western countries which have common ground more ties in cultural and educational fields).
It is in the best interest of United States to address the rise of terrorism in the countries in persian gulf and the threat of internal instability in Saudi Arabia and the other PGCC states. For United States would be better to reduce dramatically its military presence in the Persian Gulf region, even to withdraw entirely So it will reduce the tension in the region. The heavy presence of U.S. troops fuels the terrorists' propaganda claims and is a humiliating for united states and other western countries . So pulling back would ease the internal pressure on the regimes and help them enact vital but painful reforms in a frametime . But, as noted, a withdrawal would be the best move from the different perspective that will bring more trust and stablity in the region. And gives the greatest assurance to iranian, that they will not be attacked by Us and their allies in the region. We need a common ground with other persian Gulf countries which can be provided in a respectfull manner when gives a garrantee to the security of Iran and respect iranian integrity.
In the persian gulf, a security condominium would bring together the United States,the Pgcc countries, Iraq, and Iran. The parties would first establish a regional security forum in which to debate relevant issues, exchange information, and frame agreements. They could move on to confidence-building measures, such as notification of exercises and exchanges of observers, and ultimately to arms control, including demilitarized zones, bans on destabilizing weapons systems, and balanced force reductions for all.
Other area of interest would be the Establishment of economic cooperation organization, allowing ownership of non-movable properties, joint investment in oil and gas resources on bilateral and multi-lateral basis, planning free trade among the states within the members, supply of water and gas, activation of the North-South corridor in transportation (Sea, land, Air), expansion of tourism, establishment of an security cooperation organization, educational, scientific, technological and research exchanges, and cooperation in protecting Persian Gulf and Oman Sea environment. , Cancellation of visa to ease visits by citizens of the seven countries. Single currency among them. Fighting the terrorism.

Sources:

*How should Iran preserve the name of the Persian Gulf? Nader Habibi (he is an economist with concentration on Middle East economies).
*Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Securing the Persian Gulf: Washington Must Manage Both External Aggression and Internal Instability