Senator McCain's Conditions for Improving Relations with Iran

Senator John McCain, a senior member of the U.S. Senate, stated in response to questions from Radio Farda that improving diplomatic relations with the Iranian government is possible but conditional. Senator McCain also commented on ways to end the internal wars in Syria. This senior senator spoke on Wednesday at a special session to review U.S. foreign policy, stating that next year he will invite prominent figures such as Henry Kissinger to provide input on the roadmap for U.S. foreign and defense policies. A report by our colleague Nader Sediqi in Washington regarding this: On Wednesday, a one-day conference was held with the participation of several members of the U.S. Congress and former diplomats at the Newseum building, which is considered a special journalism museum in Washington. The purpose of this conference was to examine how U.S. foreign and defense policies and the related national security challenges are being addressed. Among those who spoke was Republican Senator John McCain, who answered questions from media representatives, including Radio Farda, at the end of his speech. In response to a question from Radio Farda regarding the prospects for improving diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran in light of the potential for a nuclear agreement, he deemed this possible but conditional, listing conditions that are essentially accusations previously leveled against the Islamic Republic. Senator McCain stated that improving relations with Tehran would be possible only upon the cessation of Iranian government support for Hamas, as well as ending support for Hezbollah and the Syrian government. He also mentioned another condition, which is the cessation of arms shipments from Iran to Syria. The Republican senator from Arizona, who was Barack Obama's opponent in the 2008 presidential election, emphasized the need to arm the Free Syrian Army in response to a question about how to end the internal wars in Syria. He referred to the Syrian massacres as the butchery of Bashar al-Assad and stated that to end these butcheries and defeat the Islamic State (ISIS), the U.S. must use all its capabilities. Senator McCain, who will chair the U.S. Armed Services Committee starting next year, criticized the foreign and defense policies of the Obama administration in his speech on Wednesday at the Newseum, stating that starting next year, foreign and armed services committees in the Senate will hold meetings with prominent American figures to prepare and present a clear roadmap and strategy. Senator McCain mentioned that among those invited to participate in these meetings are Henry Kissinger, James Baker, George Shultz, and other distinguished individuals such as former National Security Council chairs and military commanders like General Petraeus. He added that by utilizing the intellectual capabilities of these figures, the Senate will develop policies that prioritize budgetary factors, contrary to the approach currently prevailing in Washington. Senator McCain's critical remarks largely revolved around what he referred to as 'the inadequacies of the Obama administration's policies and the National Security Council members in the White House,' emphasizing three areas in foreign policy: the Ukraine crisis, challenges related to Iran, and Syria. Regarding the victims of the wars in Syria and Syrian refugees, he insisted that 'his greatest helplessness and failure' is preventing bloodshed and genocide in Syria, which continues. He noted that what has most influenced public opinion in the U.S. is the beheadings by the Islamic State, which has led to increased public support for policies countering Islamic fundamentalists. The Wednesday sessions at the Newseum one-day conference had two titles: 'A Chaotic World Needs American Leadership' and 'Leading in Foreign Policy.'