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By : Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

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:: A historical legacy is something that can be remembered for centuries and millennia.

Any leader whose name has remained in people’s memories for years was someone who helped usher in fundamental and deep socioeconomic, sociopolitical, military, or territorial changes.

An everlasting and unforgettable legacy does not emerge from the day-to-day or short-term-orientated policies that some leaders pursue. Sealing a business deal with another country or signing a flimsy nuclear agreement (which is already falling apart) are not legacies that remain. They will soon disappear from history and the memory of people, because they are trivial when compared to the larger picture.

Few leaders in the world get the chance to leave an everlasting legacy.

Chance for monumental change

President Trump has that opportunity. His crowning legacy lies in making a fundamental change. That change lies in the Iranian government, and changing it for the better, for the world. If Trump does not seize this opportunity, other leaders will in the future. It is inevitable that an autocratic government such as that in Iran will not last.

Such a shift would be monumental. Any fundamental change in Iran’s clerical and political establishment would reverberate like thunder throughout the world. The impact will remain for countless generations to come.

First of all, the international community would be relieved of the constant security concerns and tremendous threat of the Iranian rogue and authoritarian state, which is ranked as the top state sponsor of terrorism.

Iran has repeatedly and covertly attempted to pursue its nuclear program. Tehran is intervening militarily in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Bahrain, to name a few. The Iranian government continues to inflict damage and scuttle other nations’ foreign policy objectives.

Since 1979, Iranian leaders including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Iran’s military generals have clearly stated that they desire to pursue their revolutionary ideals, and view Washington as Iran’s top enemy. Their slogans of “the Great Satan” and “Death to America” are deeply embedded in the political system.

In other words, many nations are hoping to see a fundamental change in Iran’s political establishment. The environment is ripe for it.

Any fundamental change in Tehran’s clerical and political establishment would reverberate like thunder throughout the world.

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

Iranian public opinion

The hope is not limited to other countries; the Iranian people’s aspiration is to see a democratic and secular government that respects human rights, social justice and the rule of law.

Many Iranian people are disaffected and extremely dissatisfied with the government. They tried to make a change in the 2009 popular uprising, but they were brutally crushed. No external global power came to their help; former US President Barack Obama left them alone — being beaten or shot with the bullets from Iran’s police.

The overwhelming majority of Iranian people do not desire to see their government stealing their national wealth, or hemorrhaging billions of dollars on Syrian President Bashar Assad, terrorist groups, and Shiite proxies.

When it comes to respecting human rights, Iran is ranked among the top violators. It is ranked top in the world for the number of executions per capita. It brutally suppresses any oppositional voice. It subjugates, dehumanizes and tortures women and children. Iranian leaders crack down on religious and ethnic minorities. The list goes on and on. Iranian people welcome and seek a fundamental change.

A global shift

In addition, a fundamental change in Iran’s political establishment would significantly alter the political chessboard of the Middle East and wider world.

A democratic Iran would be once again an ally of the US. This means Assad would lose Iran’s support as well. He will be more likely to be toppled after Iran becomes democratic. A democratic Syria would also be more likely allied with the US rather than Russia. With a change in Iran, the region would become overwhelmingly on the side of Washington. The regional balance of power would shift significantly. The global balance of power would also shift in favor of the US and Western allies. Russia would lose its major foothold in the Middle East.

Powerful terrorist groups, which are funded by the Iranian government, would lose their power as they lose their funding and access to armaments. The Shiite and Sunni divide will subside as Shiite militias lose one of their powerful promoters; Iran’s sectarian agenda will be more likely eliminated; and groups such as Daesh will lose momentum. The region and the world will gain peace again.

This is the enduring, extraordinary, timeless, and unforgettable legacy; this is the breathtaking change that would carve the name of its founder, or founders, in history.

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Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated, Iranian-American political scientist. He is a leading expert on Iran and US foreign policy, a businessman and president of the International American Council. He serves on the boards of the Harvard International Review, the Harvard International Relations Council and the US-Middle East Chamber for Commerce and Business. He can be reached on Twitter @Dr_Rafizadeh.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in the Column section are their own and do not reflect RiyadhVision’s point-of-view.

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