Khatami's 'Persian soul'

President Khatami's charm offensive at the September Summit of World Leaders in New York has been seen as a dramatic new moment in diplomatic relations between Iran and the rest of the world. The president's speech amounted to no more than some warmed over glorification of the "Persian soul" and its alleged "integrative" power a la Shah Pahlavi, and a few half-baked phrases about a supposedly "new" multicultural logic of "dialogue between civilizations."

Nevertheless it is a significant moment. Most Iranians reject the anti-foreigner prejudices of the conservatives and would like to see a normalization of international relations. Iranian rulers, however, see normalization of relations as a way to take their "rightful" place in shaping international politics. The focus is especially on oil, its exploration and distribution in the northern Caspian Sea and in the southwestern border with Iraq.

After singing praises to the "Persian soul" Khatami rushed back to Iran to face some severe crises especially in Kurdish and Azeri-Turkish areas of Iran that are seething with discontent.

Before his trip to New York Khatami's wings had been clipped by Ayatollah Khamenei who humiliated the popularly elected Majlis by ordering it to remove legislation on press freedoms from its agenda. President Khatami quietly acquiesced to the order, telling Iranians and U.S. reporters that his hands are tied and that "constitutionally" he has no power to challenge the edicts of the Supreme Leader.

Many Iranians are now seriously challenging the arrogant policies that brought ruin to so many lives and devastated the Iranian economy. In addition to student protests, workers who are not being paid their wages have been holding strikes and protests throughout the country. More than 1,500 producing facilities have not received wages in the last few months. Protests have exposed continuing beatings of students arrested last year during the demonstrations for press freedoms.

Last month in Khorramabad pro-conservative groups attacked a reformist student organization's national assembly. They tried to prevent two prominent outspoken dissident Islamic intellectuals, Sorush and Kadivar, from speaking. They even attacked the local governor and assistant governor who are pro-Khatami. It was the first time that reformist government officials openly called on the masses to defend them in the streets against the conservatives.

As this movement grows and deepens it is going to also confront its own contradictions. Despite terrible hardships and struggles, these are heady days in Iran.

-Cyrus Noveen