Brazil and Iran: worlds apart

The two terms of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meet various landmarks of the great achievements unfortunate gaffes on foreign policy. There are moments involving the relationship between Brazil and the rest of South America, the rise alongside Russia, India and China, the decisive Brazilian action within the WTO (World Trade Organization), obtained with respect to the United States, the growing influence in Africa, the consolidation of Brazil as a natural candidate for permanent membership of UN Security Council and the political dialogue and trade with authoritarian regimes. Brazilian analysts tend to give more prominence to positive or negative points depending on their ideological vision on how Brazil should behave toward the world. But in spite of so many prominent roles, the Brazilian foreign policy recent runs the risk of being marked by controversy with a nation that approach a few years ago had little relevance for Brazil: the ayatollahs of Iran, oil, nuclear and stoning of adulterous women.




On Monday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has rejected a formal offer of asylum given by Lula Sakineh Ashtiani, originally ordered stoned to death for allegedly committing adultery. Ahmadinejad said the judiciary of the country did not agree with the idea. The decision is not surprising: a spokesman for the regime in Tehran had shown surprise at the suggestion of the Brazilian president, saying he was "emotional" and was misinformed about the case. This reaction had already indicated the deep ocean that separates President Lula of the Iranian regime, much as the head of the Brazilian government insists on calling his colleague Ahmadinejad a "friend."

In suggesting that the president of Iran Ashtiani was sent to Brazil, Lula has demonstrated ignorance about the country of the ayatollahs. Ahmadinejad may be the most visible figure out the Iranian nation today, but the real power rests with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In addition, the president governs only because the Guardian Council, responsible for ensuring compliance to Islamic laws of the country permits. The entity, controlled by Khamenei rejects bills passed by Parliament, the Presidency disapproves applications and controls many other areas of national public life. Contrary to what Lula says, Ahmadinejad is not your friend, but only one aspect of the installed power in Tehran. He is interested in connecting with their country emerging forces that might undo part of Western hostility against Iran, but there's nothing friendly about it. And even if "friend" of Lula, would do nothing against a decision of Justice of his country, especially in a matter of respect for the principles of radical Shiite Islamic law.



The agreement reached with Iran this year by Brazil and Turkey, involving uranium enrichment outside Iran, there was an accident or an adventure. It was a relative achievement praised by many foreign analysts, especially in Europe. The governments of Brazil and Turkish diplomatic spotted a gap left by the West and met. The context is clear: the lack of solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestinians, a diplomatic failure of the United States has increased the influence of Iran, Syria, Turkey and now the Middle East. Brazil, State political, economic and cultural development of the West, appeared as a new actor in the area, after accumulating respect. But that does not make Ahmadinejad a "friend" of President Lula, nor empowers the Brazilian president to interfere in the internal affairs of the country based on an alleged personal relationship.

If convicted, the institutional form of government to government, the adoption of cruel and inhuman treatment of women in Iran, demanding that the regime, not Ahmadinejad, to suspend the sentence given to Sakineh Ashtiani, Lula could disturb the structure of Iranian politics. It would be even more respected in Tehran for it. A sensitive case involving the adoption of Islamic law (Sharia) can not be solved in a conversation with friends, and Ahmadinejad is no friend of Lula. He will not go to one of his barbecues, not to deport a St. Paul woman sentenced for a crime which is serious in his country. He is a servant of the conservative wing of the Iranian revolutionary forces, loyal to Ali Khamenei, who in recent years smothered the reformists. This is a complex political game born in the 1979 Islamic revolution and has already hung for the progressive side, but today follows a path of much less tolerance. Nothing that the "emotive" Lula can change from night to day.