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A Key-Shaped Cake, a Bible Containing the President's Signature …

October 31, 2013

Published in Mainichi Shimbun
(Japan) on 20 October 2013
by Editorial (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Taylor Cazella. Edited by Kyrstie Lane.

A key-shaped cake, a Bible containing the president's signature, a pistol … These were gifts for important persons in Iran. As for the key, it signified "opening the door to U.S.-Iran relations," and as for the Bible, "all religions can coexist" was written on its last page. On Nov. 4, 1986, Rafsanjani, chairman of the Iranian parliament (and later president), said as much about the visit of the secret American envoy. In the summer of that year, the Reagan administration sent a top-secret envoy to Iran, which at that time had broken off all relations with the U.S. However, Iranian leaders refused to speak with them directly and, in the end, turned the envoy away. Nevertheless, at that time Iran was embroiled in a war with Iraq (1980-88). Iran was grateful to the U.S. for selling them weapons, and the U.S. found a new use for those proceeds by sending money to support the Contras, the pro-American guerrilla organization in Nicaragua (the Iran-Contra Affair). Secret business transactions were put into effect. For argument's sake, if Iran had accepted an open dialogue, the relationship of both countries might have moved toward reconciliation. However, powers quite displeased with that possibility circulated the existence of those secret negotiations in the Lebanese media and so it seems that Mr. Rafsanjani — of the moderate party, with regard to [sentiments about] the U.S. — had no choice but to make it look like he was taking a firm position. I would really like them to dispense with that spirit of rivalry already. The conference on nuclear issues between Iran and six other countries including the U.S. and Europe, held on Oct. 15 and 16, had an atmosphere that showed promise for the first draft of a joint declaration. If they reach the goal of coming to a resolution at next month's conference, reconciliation between the U.S. and Iran seems very real. However, the air of reconciliation could take a complete turn and grow cold fast. Just yesterday, it was the anniversary of the U.S. bombardment of Iranian oil field facilities the year after those secret visits (Oct. 19, 1987). They have strained with the effort to open that heavy door to better relations. But trying to do so with candy key seems a bit too naive.

余録:カギの形のケーキ、米大統領の署名入り聖書…
毎日新聞　2013年10月20日　00時16分

　カギの形のケーキ、米大統領の署名入り聖書、ピストルなどが米国からイラン要人へのお土産だった。ケーキの形には「米・イラン関係の扉を開く」という意味があり、聖書の最初のページには「すべての宗教は共存できる」と記されていた▲１９８６年１１月４日、ラフサンジャニ・イラン国会議長（後の大統領）は米特使の秘密訪問について、そんなふうに語った。米レーガン政権が同年夏、断交中のイランに特使を極秘に送り込んできたが、イラン首脳は直接対話を拒否し、特使らを追い返したのだと▲だが、当時のイランは対イラク戦争（８０〜８８年）の真っ最中。米側の武器売却にイランはありがたく応じ、米国は米国で、その売上代金をニカラグアの親米ゲリラ組織コントラへの支援に回していたのが実態だった（イラン・コントラ事件）。秘密取引は成立したのだ▲仮にイランが直接対話に応じていれば両国関係は融和に向かったかもしれない。だが、それを喜ばぬ勢力が秘密交渉の存在をレバノンのメディアに流し、対米穏健派のラフサンジャニ氏も強硬姿勢を見せるしかなくなったようだ▲こんな意地の張り合いはもう無用に願いたい。米欧など６カ国とイランが１５、１６の両日行った核問題協議は、初の共同声明を出すなど良好な雰囲気だった。来月の協議で問題解決のめどが立てば米・イランの和解も現実味を帯びる▲だが、融和の空気が一転冷え込むこともある。米軍がイランの油田施設に艦砲射撃を加えたのは秘密訪問翌年のきのう（８７年１０月１９日）だ。関係改善の重い扉はしっかり力を入れて開きたい。お菓子のカギでは甘すぎよう。

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