The proposed US-Iraq security agreement is a serious cause of concern for Iran even if it stipulates that Washington will not use Iraqi territories to attack the Islamic Republic.
The proposed agreement is shaping up a major political battle between Iran and the United States. This has prompted Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to convey a warning message to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki during his latest visit to Tehran.
The message is that Iraq should not sign this agreement if Iran was not included as an important player in the regional security system. The joint defence agreement signed by Iranian Defence Minister and his Iraqi counterpart is meant to be a "pressure card" to be used by Iran whenever it needs to apply more pressure on Iraq.
No doubt that Iran's political ambitions are much bigger than becoming a party in a regional security system governed and sponsored by the US. This is clear because Iran has been working for many years to acquire the capabilities that enable it qualify to be a key player in the region.
The astronomical prices of oil have helped Tehran develop its armament programmes and meet the requirements of speeding up its nuclear programme. Yet, it will be difficult for Iran to fulfil such great ambitions within the framework of the current international relations and the US domination.
Iran must learn from experiences of others. For example, the tragic ends of both the Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the late Iraqi president Saddam Hussain, who had similar ambitions, stand as evidence that the US will not allow the emergence of any regional power in this region.
It is not easy for anyone interested in Middle East affairs to see how Iran can become a security partner in the region and switch from an enemy of the US to a partner.
The main factors that cause a clash between Iran's policy and the US are Iran's threats to destroy Israel, its insistence to carry on its nuclear programme and supporting and financing extremist movements considered terrorist groups by the US.
European ties
The US knows no partnership with any side. Even its historic relations with Europe have turned from partnership to subordination after the Second World War when the US became leader of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato). Its partnership with Japan had similar basis after the US undertook the protection of Japan at the end of the war.
Furthermore, the US never brought up the subject of partnership with Russia until its political system changed in a way that does not contradict the economic system of Western countries, which is capitalism.
Still, the Nato is moving east in a bid to surround Russia, while the US is planning to set up missile defence systems on the Russian borders.
The US also tried stepping up pressure on Ukraine to get the Russian Black Sea Fleet out of Sevastopol as part of a plan to turn all strategic semi-closed seas, including the Arabian Gulf, into US-dominated areas.
Washington has so far followed the carrot-and-stick policy when it comes to Iran, by isolating and surrounding Iran, setting up an international alliance that tightens sanctions against it and threatening to use military power on one side, and promising tempting rewards if Iran stops enriching uranium, on the other.
The US is pushing the carrot-and- stick policy to the extreme. It can no longer introduce tougher sanctions due to Russia's strong objections. Meanwhile, China is trying to reach an agreement with the European Union in this regard, which is what US President George W. Bush threatened during his last visit to Europe.
The tempting incentives were also increased by the six countries concerned with applying pressure on Iran, namely the US, the European troika comprising the United Kingdom, France and Germany, as well as Russia and China.
Yet, this policy will not continue for long, since it failed to frighten Iran or tempt it to accept a set of incentives to abandon its nuclear programme.
Undoubtedly, Iran will acquire the capabilities to produce nuclear weapons or will actually manufacture it, which is feared most by the US and its allies.
This was predicted in an article published in the Los Angeles Times newspaper by Zbigniew Brzezinski, former US national security advisor during the presidency of Jimmy Carter, and many American experts repeated similar opinions.
The US will stay for long in Iraq regardless of whether John McCain or Barack Obama is elected as the new president of the US in November.
Dr Mohammad Akef Jamal is an Iraqi writer based in Dubai.
