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Twitter Diplomacy? New Iranian Officials Use Twitter To Make Surprising Moves To Cool Tensions Over Israel And Nukes
from the kind-of-amazing-when-you-think-about-it dept
Here's a fairly incredible story. The Iranian government is quite well known for stifling dissent and trying to limit the internet. However, we noted recently that the new President of Iran had made some surprisingly progressive statements about ending internet censorship and filtering, and supporting human rights. Obviously, it's easy to say things, while actually doing things is quite different. Even so, it's still surprising to see two recent tweets out of the Iranian government that suggest that perhaps they're really looking to ease certain tensions and move towards more peaceful relationships. The Back Channel blog has the details of the two key tweets, starting with surprising tweets from both the new President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wishing Jews a Happy Rosh Hashanah.
As you probably know, Iran doesn't exactly have the best reputation with Jews, and its former President regularly threatened to go to war with Israel. Knowing a few Persian Jews who fled that country years ago, even any suggestion of a conciliation towards Jews is a stunning point. And, it went even further. Nancy Pelosi's daughter, Christine Pelosi, responded to Zarif's tweet, stating that it would be better if Iran stopped denying the Holocaust:
Amazingly, she got back a response, in which Zarif said that Iran does not deny the Holocaust, and that "the man who is perceived to be denying it is gone now," obviously referring to Ahmadinejad.
Zarif later confirmed to reporters that it was really him who was tweeting those messages and also that he recognized he was tweeting with Nancy Pelosi's daughter.
The other interesting tweet came from President Rouhani, noting a change in who controlled Iran's nuclear efforts, and also signalling a greater willingness to have a "constructive interaction" with the world on this:
This, also, is a pretty big deal, and while I'm sure many will (rightfully) view the whole thing with skepticism, one can also be hopeful that this is a sign of a real shift in policies from Iran.
But perhaps even more interesting is the fact that this is all happening over Twitter. The fact that Zarif and Pelosi could have an exchange like that is fairly astounding once you think about it. That sort of thing was basically impossible just a few years ago. The ability to do diplomacy via social media is quite amazing. It really was just a year and a half ago that we were somewhat amazed (and also hopeful) that various citizens of both Israel and Iran were reaching out to each other via Facebook, to try to build direct connections and a hopeful sense of peace between citizens, but we wondered if the same sort of thing would ever extend up to the politicians and those in power. While we're not there yet, it's at least nice to see some sort of encouraging sign.
The ability to actually communicate and relate to one another as human beings rather than as caricatures is incredibly powerful. It can (and will) be abused at times, but we can still hope for good results and be encouraged when we see potential signs of it happening.
As the sun is about to set here in #Tehran I wish all Jews, especially Iranian Jews, a blessed Rosh Hashanah. pic.twitter.com/tmaf84x7UR
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 4, 2013
Happy Rosh Hashanah
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) September 5, 2013
Thanks. The New Year would be even sweeter if you would end Iran's Holocaust denial, sir. “@JZarif: Happy Rosh Hashanah”
— sfpelosi (@sfpelosi) September 5, 2013
@sfpelosi Iran never denied it. The man who was perceived to be denying it is now gone. Happy New Year.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) September 5, 2013
The other interesting tweet came from President Rouhani, noting a change in who controlled Iran's nuclear efforts, and also signalling a greater willingness to have a "constructive interaction" with the world on this:
Foreign Ministry will be in charge of Iran's #Nuclear Negotiations.Ready for constructive interaction with the world http://t.co/sCrQ0Qhh5K
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 5, 2013
But perhaps even more interesting is the fact that this is all happening over Twitter. The fact that Zarif and Pelosi could have an exchange like that is fairly astounding once you think about it. That sort of thing was basically impossible just a few years ago. The ability to do diplomacy via social media is quite amazing. It really was just a year and a half ago that we were somewhat amazed (and also hopeful) that various citizens of both Israel and Iran were reaching out to each other via Facebook, to try to build direct connections and a hopeful sense of peace between citizens, but we wondered if the same sort of thing would ever extend up to the politicians and those in power. While we're not there yet, it's at least nice to see some sort of encouraging sign.
The ability to actually communicate and relate to one another as human beings rather than as caricatures is incredibly powerful. It can (and will) be abused at times, but we can still hope for good results and be encouraged when we see potential signs of it happening.
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Back to the topic: this is a step in the right direction, however small it may be. I hope the Iranian official continue to move in that right direction.
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Re:
Ugh. That's not grammar nazi'ing, that's pointing out a bad typo. Sorry. It's fixed.
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Gotta be a record
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Re: Gotta be a record
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Re: Gotta be a record
40 minutes, much more in line with internet norms. Guess I'll have to call the folks at Guinness and apologise for getting them excited.
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Iran's nuclear negotiations
The only problem is because it's abundant, a byproduct of rare-earth production, nuclear fuel contractors don't invest in reactor building -> much higher cost on the government.
So, in exchange for the assurance of israel and the us that iran won't make nukes, these two should make ample donations for the program.
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Re: Iran's nuclear negotiations
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well, just *seems* like a big deal...
like so many other 'issues' which were mini-false-flags, achminawhateverthefuckhisnamewas (yes, the irony...) did not have the views ascribed to him as reported in our media...
it was generally a lot more subtle than that...
but, since eye-ran were teh evil, NOTHING they said could be construed as 'positive'/good, and EVERYTHING they said was spun as threatening...
same ole same ole: unka sam bullhorning everyone else down, so truth was perverted, and lies were promulgated...
just another day in Empire...
art guerrilla
aka ann archy
eof
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Blimey
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Re: Blimey - thank you, you speak for me, as well
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They're not a real threat and never have been, they're just sitting on an ocean of oil and are friendly with Syria. All the Israel-baiting was just bravado, red meat for the base. However, it can't be denied that they've been involved in terrorism; what I'm saying is, a full-scale war was always out of the question.
It might be worth reading this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d'%C3%A9tat to get some background on US-Iranian relationships
Also http://scholarsandrogues.com/2013/09/06/83565/
http://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/irans-unwavering-sup port-to-assads-syria
http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/08/28/216385513/who-are-syrias-frien ds-and-why-are-they-supporting-assad
http://iranprimer.usip.org/resource/iran-and-syria
http:/ /ecfr.eu/content/entry/commentary_syria_the_view_from_iran137
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Re:
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On Twitter, we are all the same
Twitter flattens hierarchies. A nobody can talk to a VIP and a VIP talk to a nobody, just as easily as a nobody can talk to another nobody.
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Please add salt
They also have an established pattern of looking like they'll allow reform, and those who stick up their heads lose their heads.
While I would love to see change in Iran, even taking the new president at face value doesn't carry much weight as the mullahs are the final authority in Iran.
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Mind blown
This is great news for Iran.
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