For 18 years, Reese Erlich has reported on U.S. and Iran relations, and he has often witnessed what he believes is a troubling trend: the American government’s destructive manipulation of Iran and the long-term effects of its action on the country.
“There’s a complete unwillingness to look at the interconnectedness and consequences of U.S. actions,” Erlich said at a recent lecture held in Alumni Hall and sponsored by Lesley’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and Student Inclusion (MASI) and Massachusetts Peace Action.
Joy Geha, a student member of MASI and Mass Peace’s Middle East working group, was instrumental in bringing Erlich, a Peabody Award-winning journalist, to campus.
“I wanted him to come because he has extensive knowledge as a journalist about the policy (on Iran), and has been to Iran several times,” Geha said.
Erlich is the author of “The Iran Agenda Today: The Real Story Inside Iran and What's Wrong with U.S. Policy.” Published in September, the book takes a dim view of the United States’ interactions with Iran.
Erlich believes the U.S. government and President Donald Trump, in particular, have ulterior motives when it comes to recent dealings with the country, namely to control Iran’s oil trade by putting pro-American political leadership in place.
“The policy in Washington is one of regime change, though not officially — to crank up sanctions, to inflame tensions among ethnic minorities, to do whatever they can to stir up trouble, in order to install a pro-U.S. regime in Tehran,” said Erlich.
Distrust declassified
It’s not a new tactic, but it is one that he believes could prove detrimental as it has in the past. Erlich supplied former Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh as an example, who was removed from power in a 1953 coup fueled by the CIA through “every terrorist tactic in the book” and supplanted by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. It resulted in a deep Iranian mistrust in the U.S. government. At the time, the U.S. denied involvement, but approximately 1,000 pages of declassified documents were later released that show otherwise.
The coup initiated a chain reaction that led to economic distress and government oppression, among other effects, and brought about the Islamic Revolution in 1979, followed by the declaration of Iran as an Islamic state by Ayatollah Khomeni. Shortly thereafter, anti-American protestors, who believed the U.S. was continuing its support of the Shah, stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and kidnapped 52 Americans. They were held hostage for 444 days and released only after the Shah died of cancer and the U.S. agreed to release $8 billion of frozen Iranian assets and stay out of Iranian internal politics.
The ripple effect
Today, mistrust goes both ways. Despite reports to the contrary from his own intelligence agencies, Trump has insisted that Iran poses a nuclear threat.
“It’s a non-issue but it’s one that gets people very scared,” Erlich said.
Still, Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal earlier this year, reneging on an agreement entered into with European countries, Russia, China and the United Nations in 2015.
Erlich added that Trump has tried to strong-arm other nations to restrict their trade with Iran. In October, Trump issued a warning that other countries must cease their consumption of Iranian oil by Nov. 4, threatening to “take care” of those who didn’t. With some of the world’s biggest oil consumers (namely, India and China) ignoring the threat, Erlich said Trump gave them waivers at the last minute to save face.
“It was an admission of stark weakness,” the journalist said.
Frenemy in chief
Trump’s overall treatment of trade partners and conservative allies has baffled Erlich.
“Who in their right mind thinks if you attack China with a trade war that somehow China is going to cooperate with you about Iran? If you expect somebody to do something, you treat them nicely. Apparently, Trump don’t get it.”
Erlich also commented on Trump’s recent attack on Theresa May’s Brexit agreement with the EU.
“Every day he finds some new country to attack,” he said. Adding, sarcastically, “It’s just a joy to behold.”
Yet, Erlich sees reason to be positive about future policy in the Middle East. He noted that many Democrats were elected during the midterm elections and some Republicans are pushing back on Trump’s international policies. The House and Senate are debating whether to end U.S. support for the war in Yemen. People are increasingly wary of military spending.
“I think there’s reason for optimism,” Erlich said, in closing. “I hope you agree.”
Going forward, Geha, a student of Middle Eastern descent, would like to bring more such discussions to campus.
“I loved seeing the attendees engaged and asking questions,” she said. “I want to host a few events regarding several countries in the Middle East, so students get exposed to credible information coming from professionals in peace work and journalism.”