“The single greatest strategic challenge the United States faces in 2016 remains the Islamic Republic of Iran.” These are the words of General Hugh Shelton, a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the US military, in an article published in The Washington Times this week.
The article demonstrates the extent to which Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has failed to live up to his self-proclaimed “moderate” tag, and has in fact inflicted an increasing number of human rights violations upon the people of Iran. According to Shelton, “the United States has shown leniency in the face of belligerence and used half-measures to confront adversaries who define extremism in both word and deed.”
Rouhani came into power in 2013 on the basis of a “positive-sounding rhetoric” that espoused a more moderate form of Islam and closer relations between Iran and the international community, after years out in the cold, to combat the threat of terrorism in the Middle East. However, “two and a half years later, every one of these promises have proven to be false or unattainable.” As stated by the General, “these sorts of remarks play into the notion that Mr. Rouhani is a moderating influence within his theocratic government. But they only accomplish this end if we deliberately ignore Mr. Rouhani’s behaviour.”
Shelton notes that the failure of the US, and other Western Governments to face up to the discord between the Iranian Government’s words and actions has “empowered its bad behaviour.” Considering Iran’s abysmal record on capital punishment, Shelton declares, “Mr. Rouhani has overseen the highest rate of executions in more than 25 years — a stunning record for a country that has been consistently recognized as the world’s worst abuser of the death penalty.” There have been an estimated 2000 hangings under Rouhani. His tenure has also seen a discernible rise in “enforcement of Shariah law, criminalization of progressive social trends, and the persecution and arrest of Western nationals and journalists.” As Shelton asks, “is this the work of a ‘moderate’ leader?”
The failure of the West to properly hold Rouhani to account for his regime’s actions is compounded by the fact that “that there is no shortage of other Muslim individuals and groups, many of them Iranian, who steadfastly embody the progressive sort of Islam that is only too eager to coexist with the diverse, modern world.”
“These include the Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi, who has long promoted a 10-point plan for the future of the country, including principles such as free and fair elections, gender equality, and separation of religion and state.”
Shelton queries the motivation of the international community’s lack of engagement with these progressive forces, even to the point of sitting back whilst the Rouhani regime attacks Iranian expatriates in Iraq. “Agents of Iran’s fundamentalist regime have continued to murder these brave people, who advocate democracy and tolerance not just in words, but in deed.”
It is clear to Shelton that the leniency of the West towards Rouhani stems from the desire to uphold the recent nuclear deal. However, despite some dissenting voices within the US congress and the European Parliament calling on the international community to be stronger in protecting the innocent in Iraq, Iran has still been allowed to act with impunity. This has been demonstrated by the recent launch of two ballistic missiles by the Iranian military, in breach of UN Security Council Resolutions.
Shelton is unequivocal in his opinion on how the West should engage with Iran going forward. He believes that the international community should see “Rouhani as he actually is and formulate a policy based on facts and not hope. The contradictions of U.S. policy must give way to consistent, sober analysis and statecraft if we are to regain the upper hand and promote the regional stability and security we all seek.”
