[A-List] Iran Woos Mideast Business Elite

["Yoshie Furuhashi" <critical.montages@xxxxxxxxx>]

<http://www.ft.com/cms/s/6814b376-06f7-11dc-93e1-000b5df10621.html>
Iran woos Mideast business elite

By Roula Khalaf at the Dead Sea in Jordan

Published: May 20 2007 18:44 | Last updated: May 20 2007 18:44

Iran took its diplomatic offensive to the Middle East's business and
political elite at the the weekend, deploying its politicians at a
high-profile conference to make its case as it fights off
international pressure over its nuclear programme.

Iranian officials, including Manouchehr Mottaki, the foreign minister,
were present for the first time at the World Economic Forum conference
at the Dead Sea Resort in Jordan attended by business and political
leaders, including Israeli delegates. Tzipi Livni, Israeli foreign
minister, however cancelled her attendance.

Seeking the support of ordinary Arabs and Muslims with anti-Israeli
slogans has been a cornerstone of Iran's foreign policy under
President Mahmoud Ahmadi- Nejad. But the strategy has infuriated Arab
governments, and intensified suspicions of Tehran's intentions at a
time when its influence in the region has grown.

This has led Iran to step up contacts with Arab rulers. Mr
Ahmadi-Nejad has travelled to Saudi Arabia and most recently to the
United Arab Emirates – the first trip by an Iranian president since
the 1979 Islamic revolution. In March, Iran sent its foreign minister,
as an observer, to the Arab League summit in Riyadh.

"Iran is trying to take advantage of every opportunity to make its
case and it knows that the Arab world is more receptive to its
message," said Mohammed Ali Abtahi, the former Iranian vice-president.
"Iranians have something in common with the Arabs – they are both
against Israel's nuclear programme."

Abdelaziz al-Sager, head of the Dubai-based Gulf Research Centre and a
critic of Iran, said Tehran's active diplomacy was also aimed at a
domestic audience. "They want to send the message that we're active
and that we're neutralising the Gulf."

The Iranian efforts has not assuaged the concerns of Arab regimes,
which see many of its regional policies at odds with their own. Shia
Iran meanwhile suspects its Sunni Arab neighbours, all allies of the
US, of working to undermine it.

But the dialogue with the region has, at least temporarily, eased
Shia-Sunni tensions, and put Arab rulers on the spot, prompting many
to declare opposition to US military strikes on Iran over its nuclear
programme. "The Iranians waste no opportunity to make their voices
heard, but they still have a difficult case to sell," said Ayman
Safadi, editor of Jordan's al-Ghad newspaper.

--
Yoshie