On 16 May, in response to recent conciliatory moves by US imperialism Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, gave his clearance to the first face-to-face talks between the US and Iran for 27 years.
Following several weeks' co-operation in working groups formed after the 10 March conference on the situation in Iraq; Condoleezza Rice's assertion that "regime change" had never been the policy of the Bush government in relation to Iran (Financial Times, 23 April 2007); and allowing some contact with the five Iranian 'diplomats' captured in Arbil; Khamenei took the historic step of allowing the first direct contact with the 'Great Satan' since diplomatic relations were severed during the US embassy hostage crisis.
Although the talks on 28 May will ostensibly be about the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, they will represent the opportunity and the justification (in relation to the domestic political scene in both countries) for establishing official diplomatic contact between the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI).
Even though this meeting is aimed at helping US imperialism get out of its second Vietnam Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution(!), tried to present it as an opportunity to criticise the Americans! He said: "Since America, as the occupying government, does not act according to its duty of establishing security in Iraq, and has tied the hands of that country's government, and is attempting to overthrow it and also supports terrorists, the [Iranian] Foreign Ministry has decided [to accept] the Iraqi government's invitation for face-to-face talks with the Americans, to remind them of their duty regarding security in Iraq and to give them a send-off."
Yet in order to keep the IRI's disgruntled supporters on board, he had to add: "Those who think that the Islamic Republic of Iran has changed its robust, logical and one hundred percent defensible policy in refusing to have negotiations and contact with America, are very much mistaken." (Resalat, 17 May 2007)
Khamenei's underling, 'President' Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has also been busy mending fences with a number of Arab countries closely allied with America. During a recent trip to the United Arab Emirates (with which Iran has a territorial dispute) and Oman he said that diplomatic relations with Egypt could be restored.
We cannot separate the foreign policy of the IRI from its domestic policy. The recently re-launched privatisation and foreign direct investment drives, and the overtures to US imperialism, are preparing the ground for intensifying the exploitation of Iranian workers. It is time for the Iranian working class to arm itself with the theory and the organisational apparatus that can fight the coming onslaught on its livelihood and freedom.
Morad Shirin
21 May 2007