Iran supports US SOFA agreement.

This turn around will probably ensure that the SOFA will pass the Iraqi parliament although it certainly does not guarantee it. It seems that Iran is optimistic that they can have a positive dialogue with Obama. However, given the Iranian and US positions on Iranian nuclear development this may be a temporary thaw.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Iran's Sudden Support for Iraq-US Security Pact
Omid Memarian explains Iran's turnaround on the Iraqi-US security agreement, which it was rejecting only last month:
'Obama's victory disarms leaders such as Ahmadinejad, who for decades have used inefficient American foreign policies as excuses to justify their own failures, mismanagement and corruption. Earlier this year, Ahmadinejad said that the "U.S. (political) establishment will not let Obama win the presidential election." This was believed because in none of the Muslim countries, including Iran, does a man of a minority ethnicity like Obama have even a slim chance of getting a position in a high office. But American democracy allow this.' McClatchy has more: "Reports from Iran's state news agency called an Iraqi Cabinet vote that advanced the security compact a "victory for the ruling party and its Kurdish partners," referring to the Shiite lawmakers who supported the agreement." Me, I agree with Memarian that the turning point was the election Obama. The Iranians would never have trusted McCain enough to hope for any good outcome from a security pact. But I think they are convinced that Obama really does want US troops out of Iraq, and that he wants to talk to Iran.The Iranians haven't changed their minds about the goal,of getting US troops out of Iraq,but they can now afford to be a little patient.
posted by Juan Cole @