American oil companies are apparently awaiting the inevitable lifting of the trade sanctions against Iran by the new administration, hoping to rush there to enjoy a large share of vast Iranian oil and gas resources.
Before making any commitments, however, they should realize that the present Iran is not a responsible player in the modern world community and obviously hostile to the established universal rule of laws.
When the Islamic regime loses control and collapses, Iranian oil delivery will freeze, and her international commitments will not be honored. Certainly, there will be a period of political instability that will intensify with an oil market disruption.
American oil companies interested in dealing with the present undemocratic regime in Iran should be patient and respond when power inevitably changes hands.
The regime of Iran is one of few governments that the US has accused of promoting international terrorism, abusing human rights, and storing weapons of mass destruction. Critics believe that oil revenues are making these programs possible. Therefore, even those European oil firms that are presently active in Iran should put maximum distance between their monetary interests and the totalitarian regime of the Islamic Republic.
Since 1996, the Islamic officials have blamed Iran's ever-worsening economic arena on the trade sanctions imposed by former President Bill Clinton, which is hardly a correct assessment. The American oil companies or any officials from the new administration that oppose sanctions are supporting an undemocratic and proterrorist government, and by doing that they are advocating hostilities toward the US and its interests.
According to reports from banned newspapers in Iran that have been echoed by the international media, Iranian society remains where it has been since clergyman Khatami took office in 1997, and in some aspects has become even worse. No one can recall any part of the world where a country so rich in natural resources (10% of total world oil and 17% of total world gas) experienced such a profound and rapid deterioration of the general standard of living as did Iran after the so-called revolution of 1979. According to the official reports, the majority of Iranians live below the poverty line. The Iranian economy is ruined, and there is no sign of relief in sight.
The burden of the economic crisis falls most heavily on young Iranians, including university graduates, who have no future and employment prospects.
The clergies in charge of Iranian affairs have consolidated their regime mainly by giving away the country's natural riches with great discounts, income that was supposed to have helped the struggling people of Iran. Clearly, the regime is sacrificing the welfare of the Iranian people for its own gain and survival.
Whether or not the trade sanctions by the United States have been a sufficient response to the terrorist nature of the Islamic Republic, the removal of sanctions and the subsequent flow of American oil companies to Iran would not stop the terrorist behavior of the clergies and certainly would not put an end to the misery of the Iranian people as long as this hostile regime stays in power.
Despite the oil companies' enthusiasm regarding Iran's abundant hydrocarbon resources, they should be cautious, and their behavior should not show signs of support of a regime which indulges itself while the Iranian people are practically starving.
A democratic Iran without clergies in power would be the Iran that oil companies should wish to invest in and do business with. Undoubtedly, it will be the capital and know-how of the oil companies that will ultimately revitalize the Iranian economy. However, for a healthy operation and a secure source of oil and gas supply, they should side with the people of Iran.
Certainly, their distance from an uncivilized regime, their intention of supporting democracy in Iran, and their expression of concern for suffering Iranians at this time of oppression will gain oil companies their welcome when a new Iran is in place.
Mansour Kashfi
Richardson, Tex.
