MIDEAST MIRROR 16.07.15, SECTION C (TURKEY & IRAN)

1-From today’s Turkish press

IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL: Semih Idiz expects greater pressures on Ankara in the wake of the Iran nuclear deal in secular, Kemalist Cumhuriyet: "While Turkey has still not managed to escape the charge that it is helping ISIS, the anti-ISIS international front has become much stronger after the deal with Iran. In this case, it is unnecessary to ask the permanent members of the Security Council whom they will trust most in fighting against ISIS - Iran or Turkey. With the Iran deal, Turkey's policy based on toppling Assad by military means has been totally undermined. This deal has increased the probability of finding a diplomatic and political solution for the Syrian crisis. After the deal, the isolation that Turkey has fallen into because of the AKP’s [ruling Justice and Developing Party’s] ambitious and wrongheaded policies will be much more visible than before."

Sahin Alpay hopes for a foreign policy turnabout in moderate, pro-Islamic, pro-Gulen Zaman: "The deal has great benefits for Turkey. Economic relations between the two countries will be rescued from the limitations imposed by the sanctions against Iran. Turkish industry will benefit from the growing Iran market; the flow of Iranian tourists will rise. If the deal makes a political contribution to a solution of the Syrian crisis, as expected, Turkey will be the country that benefits most. The material and non-material burden caused by the Syrian refugees, whose number has reached almost two million, is gradually reaching unbearable levels. The possibility of a political solution in Syria might give Ankara the opportunity to return to the foreign policy that it pursued before 2011 summarized by the slogan 'zero problems with neighbors'."

Dogu Ergil also calls for a foreign policy review in centrist, pro-Gulen Bugun: "Strengthening the Iranian economy will increase the volume of trade with Turkey, but it is also obvious that Iran will be a difficult rival for Turkey in the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East. As a very active and acceptable actor on the international arena, Iran might nullify Turkey's policies in these regions, whose goals are not properly thought out. From now on, a new game is being established and roles will be re-assigned. Turkey must be prepared for all this. The era of foreign policy based on ideological and personal preferences/desires is coming to an end."

Merve Sebnem Oruc warns of a nuclear catastrophe in moderate, pro-Islamic, pro-government Yeni Safak: "The deal between Iran and the P5+1 has allowed Iran to legitimize spreading non-nuclear weapons across the region. Apart from that, its uranium enrichment activities that are not totally banned but only limited, launch a new era not only for Saudi Arabia and the regional countries, but for the rest of the world, since this establishes a legitimate limit for enriching uranium and developing nuclear technology. From now on, anyone can set up a nuclear centrifuge, enrich uranium and possess nuclear arms technology. Let us hope that the world will not one day see this deal as one of the reasons for starting a nuclear war."

 

COALITION TALKS: Mehmet Tezkan notes the president’s opposition to a coalition in centrist Milliyet: "The AKP-HDP [pro-Kurdish leftist alliance] talks were not focused on coalition building at all, but on the Kurdish peace process. There were attempts to melt the ice between the parties. It is known that President Erdogan does not take a positive view of the AKP entering a coalition with the CHP [Republican People's Party]. He is even opposed to it. That is why he says 'if politics cannot solve the coalition crisis, then the nation must solve it through early elections'. He wants to appeal to the nation."

Mustafa Balbay believes the HDP is playing politics in secular, Kemalist Cumhuriyet: "The result that came out of yesterday's AKP-HDP meeting was not surprising. The HDP wants the AKP and the CHP to enter a coalition, and for it to be the main party that evaluates this government’s record. And, of course, it is calculating the votes that it may receive from the CHP base at the next election [after the CHP is weakened by its time in government]."

Abdulkadir Selvi anticipates early elections in Yeni Safak: "The first round of talks has ended. The prime minister wants to form a coalition. CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu wants to be in the coalition. Both the MHP [Nationalist Movement Party] and HDP are against an AKP-CHP coalition. But if one were to ask whether I am optimistic about an AKP-CHP coalition, the answer is no. The pointer seems to be closer to early elections and a caretaker government formed by the AKP."

2-From today’s Iranian press

NUCLEAR DEAL: Conservative Quds reveals Saudi/Israeli cooperation to undermine a deal: "The recent nuclear agreement has been welcomed by most countries as being good for world peace. The Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia, however, had negative reactions. When the negotiations got serious, Saudi Arabia set up a Hebrew/Arab front to undermine the process in cooperation with the Zionist regime. A telephone line was set up between Tel Aviv and Riyadh to coordinate the two regimes' policies." 

Conservative Khorasan expects difficulties for Obama: "Obama believes that he has taken historical measures and reduced Iran's threat to the U.S. and the West. His opponents believe that the nuclear deal has not led to a decrease in Iran's strategic power and that the lifting of sanctions will provide Iran the opportunity to optimize economic conditions and upgrade its defence, security and military programmes. This will have regional and international strategic impact. Obama will face a difficult path ahead in implementing the Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action."

Hard-line Javan exaggerates: "The way America is behaving shows that Iran has become a power that the U.S. does not have the courage to resort to the military option against it. The U.S. does not have the ability either to hold negotiation directly with Iran and needs the support of France, the UK and Germany. America does not consider our military power to be mightier than its own, but is afraid of our soft power. The growing power of the Islamic revolution has turned the U.S. from a foolish enemy to a relatively clever one." 

Moderate Iran records new modes: "The nuclear agreement is a new form of statesmanship, in which Iran speaks the language of logic with the world. Iranians want to change their previous pessimism and confusion with competition and cooperation. They do not want any country or government to feel threatened by Iran's growing power."

Conservative Siyasat-e Ruz looks both ways: "In addition to the establishment of diplomatic and political relations, the conclusion of the talks will have both positive and negative effect on economic ties. After the nuclear agreement, billions of dollars of frozen assets will return to the country, the impasse on oil exports will be resolved and foreign business will exploit the Iranian market. This can improve our economic cycle and pave the way for creating job opportunities. But if investments are made to import foreign goods, domestic production is not taken into account, revenues of oil are spent and the Resistance Economy is ignored, nothing good will happen to the economy." 

Centrist Jomhuri-ye Eslami is pleased with the new realities: "The resistance of the Iranian nation to secure its nuclear rights finally resulted in a 'win-win' agreement. From now on, Iran is recognized as a nuclear power with a complete fuel cycle and enrichment, where none of the nuclear sites will be shut down and dismantled. Iran's nuclear programme, which for years was unjustly considered a global threat, is now subject to international cooperation." 

Hard-line Keyhan gazes into the future: "Some believe that the nuclear agreement means a strategic turn in U.S. policy away from regime change in Iran. America after 36 years has accepted the reality of an 'Islamic Republic'. President Obama and Secretary Kerry acknowledged in their declarations that the nuclear agreement with Iran was due to urgency and their desperation. If everything goes as on paper, in about a decade the agreement will come to an end. At that time it will not be easy for us to protect our natural and legal rights. If we want to have a better hand in future negotiations, the only remedy is: work, work and work in all fields." 

Conservative Resalat is concerned with different interpretations: "The Iranian fact-sheet of the agreement issued by the Foreign Ministry had significant differences with what President Obama mentioned in his remarks. The Iranian fact-sheet says that Iran's red lines have been observed but the U.S. version claims that Iranian red lines, particularly about the removal of sanctions, have not been observed. The phrases and words used in the declaration contain parentheses, are subject to interpretation, ambiguous or multi-meaning. People expect to see a transparent and clear text that cannot be distorted by the enemy." 

Reformist Sharq asks the government to be prepared: "We should thank President Rowhani who firmly stood against the hard-liners and succeeded in achieving the nuclear deal. People are now waiting for his second page of success in the domestic field. Moreover, the expectations of the people regarding the deal should also be managed. People know that it takes long to resolve the problems that have been created by the hard-liners. Those concerned about the nuclear deal are now preparing to criticize it by asking about its benefits. They will target the vulnerable points of the government through their propaganda tools. The government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supporters of the deal should prepare themselves for a spectacular competition."

Reformist Mardom Salari has high hopes: "The nuclear deal can neutralize the negative propaganda against Iran. The gap with opponent countries will be removed and progress can be achieved in manufacturing, mines and the nuclear industry. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council will come to the conclusion that they cannot hinder this deal and, therefore, they should change their policies regarding Iran. The nuclear deal can be the cornerstone for the establishment of security in the region and the world; replacing conflicts with cooperation."

Reformist Arman is also optimistic: "Following success in the nuclear talks, the countries of the region who opposed this deal, will decide to accept reality and change their stance towards Iran. This victory is a preliminary promise. It is expected that the implementation of the deal in the coming few months, will pass all bottlenecks and barriers without trouble and we will witness positive results." 

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