US: Press Iran’s Leaders about Executions and Human Rights during Nuclear Negotiations

On January 27th, Hashem Shaabani, an Arab-Iranian poet, was executed by Iran for crimes

against God and endangering national security. Shabaani, an ethnic Arab from the Iranian province of

Khuzestan located near the Persian Gulf, was an outspoken critic of the regime’s treatment of ethnic

Arabs. Sadly, Shaabani is another victim in Iran’s system of oppression being the 300 th person put to

death in the last six months. It is notable that these executions have escalated under the administration

of Hassan Rouhani, the new president of Iran. Urging “constructive engagement” with the world and the

West, in particular, Iran’s continued policy of mass execution belies a troubling break in the promise of

change and diplomacy from the government. The US and P5+1 partners should take the opportunity to

press Iran to end its systematic executions of political dissidents and open a broader dialogue with Iran’s

political opposition about human rights in the next round of negotiations.

There is significant precedent in American foreign relations that should encourage the Obama

administration to raise these concerns. Especially, in the midst of complex, lengthy negotiations over

nuclear disarmament. During the negotiations in Reyjkavik, Iceland of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces

Treaty, President Reagan issued a statement saying that he will press Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to

ease restrictions against Soviet Jewish citizens and allow emigration to Israel. In addition, this

admonition wasn’t limited to the president alone. Senior American officials across the political spectrum

from Vice President George H.W. Bush, Secretary of State George Schultz to Senator Ted Kennedy

repeated the president’s call for the Soviets to respect human rights. Some feared pushing Gorbachev

too hard on free emigration and religious expression would weaken him in the eyes of Soviet hardliners

and scuttle the talks. In spite of these fears, the Reagan administration still was able to complete an

historic treaty with one of the United States’ most persistent and powerful foes without sacrificing the

United States’ commitment to freedom, dignity and opportunity abroad.

The United States has a unique opportunity to resolve one of the most intractable disputes it

has ever faced with another nation. However, the continuation of a policy by Iran that silences dissent

and terrorizes a people should not be allowed to disappear in the midst of a discussion by larger

interests. As President Rouhani said, “all the people in our country…should feel they’re the citizens of

one country and enjoy equal rights.” For all of Iran’s talk of a desire to be treated equally, it’s about time

someone makes them follow their own advice. The United States should not miss this chance to do it.