University Of Tehran Professor Of International Relations On U.S.-Iran Developments

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Nasser Hadian, a professor of international relations at the University of Tehran, about the state of the relationship between the U.S. and Iran.

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

As many Americans have been nervously monitoring the news for the latest on the story in Iran, people are doing the same thing, debating what may happen next, wondering whether their country might be headed for war. Our co-host, Mary Louise Kelly, is in Iran this week. This afternoon found her in a Tehran coffee shop, where she'd arranged to meet one especially news-obsessed Iranian.

MARY LOUISE KELLY, BYLINE: Pleased to meet you. I'm Mary Louise.

Nasser Hadian first visited the U.S. as a student in the late '70s, before the revolution in Iran. He has closely tracked U.S.-Iran relations ever since, including from his perch as a professor of international relations at Tehran University.

You OK if we use our microphones? It's fine, yeah?

We settled in at a table near the window of Rossotti Cafe (ph), the air thick with shisha smoke, Iranians chattering around us. And I asked about next moves, what he's watching for next from the U.S., whether Iran will feel compelled to act beyond the missile attacks on military bases in Iraq.

NASSER HADIAN: You know, they both can claim victory. Neither of them wants war. So things are going to remain the same. Things are going to remain within control.

KELLY: Still, Nasser Hadian concedes that what passes for in control right now makes him pretty uneasy.

You've been a professor of international relations for three decades. Have you ever seen a worse moment in U.S.-Iran relations than this week?

HADIAN: Never - than this week. I was - as I said, that - I can tell you for the last three, four nights, had to sleep all together, not more than five, six hours. I was really worried about...

KELLY: People in both our countries are doing this, yes.

HADIAN: Yeah, after - because - it was particularly after the killing of the general, Soleimani. You know, I knew that Iran is going to do something, I mean, because the expectation was so high. Hardly any government official could be silent or not to do anything. And to me, of course, the government should have acted more prudently, managed expectations, but that in case if they didn't want to do anything, they had the opportunity.

KELLY: I want to put to you a question that I have been asked by people back home this week. People say, does Iran feel like a country about to go to war, a country on war footing? And I feel funny asking it of you because we're sitting in this lovely cafe with people smoking and drinking nice drinks and tea around us. And it's so crowded with people having a birthday celebration upstairs, we couldn't get a table. Does it feel - because I don't usually live here - does it feel different? Does it feel like a country gearing up for a greater conflict?

HADIAN: No. They don't think it is going to be a war, but it may be a little bit deceptive. Let's not forget that many of the people who are the decision-maker today are veterans of the war.

KELLY: The Iran-Iraq War.

HADIAN: Iran-Iraq War for eight years, (unintelligible) scared of war. That may not necessarily be a positive thing. OK. So if we can pass one week, we are safe. And then we begin the normal politics, which is not necessarily a very safe politics, but it's still very much calculated politics.

KELLY: Let me ask you to look to five years from now. You and I are sitting at this table. We're in this cafe in 2025. We have a little more gray hair, but otherwise everything is as is. What is your hope for your country's place in the world, your country's relationship with the United States?

HADIAN: As I said, as an ever-optimist, you know, I've spent a lot of my time in U.S. America is like my second home. So undoubtedly what I would love to see is a much, much better relationship between Iran and the U.S. And even if you go right now, just go by yourself, tell your Americans, anybody you want, you see how they treat you, the hospitality.

KELLY: You're hopeful. Is this a realistic hope?

HADIAN: Yes.

KELLY: There've been 40 years of troubles between our countries.

HADIAN: Yes. To me, as I said that, if we can, let's make a deal. Let the country make a deal with President Trump. We are better off to make a (unintelligible) before his election. And we have some cards in our hands which can help him to be reelected.

KELLY: You're saying there may be an opportunity, even in this...

HADIAN: Exactly.

KELLY: ...Extremely tense and difficult moment.

HADIAN: My exact phrase was things will get worse before getting better. It has already happened. But I hope not very much worse. And then I'm hopeful that, you know, we can move to a better relationship. All of my worries about from now to next week.

KELLY: One day at a time.

HADIAN: Yes. If we can put us - put behind ourselves this week, and then this month, I'm hopeful things will be changed - will change relatively shortly.

KELLY: Professor Hadian, thank you.

HADIAN: You're welcome.

KELLY: Thank you. Shall we order?

(LAUGHTER)

HADIAN: Of course, yes.

CORNISH: That's professor Nasser Hadian of Tehran University sharing tea and conversation with our colleague, Mary Louise Kelly.

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