Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 30 / Trend T.Konyayeva /
U.S. Senator John Kerry's visit to Iran will not entail any serious changes and not resolve existing problems, experts believe.
"Kerry's visit, if it takes place, will serve to his personal political agenda and nothing more," Middle East Institute President Yevgeny Satanovsky wrote Trend in an e-mail.
Last week, Senior Senator from Massachusetts and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry told the White House he is interested in making a trip to Iran to discuss nuclear issues with the country's officials.
At a press conference earlier this week, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said parliament has already submitted Kerry's request to visit Iran. The parliament will consider the proposal, the ISNA news agency reported.
According to Israeli expert Barry Rubin, Kerry's proposal is another signal that the Obama administration will seemingly do anything to avoid, or at least postpone, increasing sanctions on Iran due to the country's nuclear weapons drive.
"Tehran may take such a move [Kerry's visit] as further proof - in its eyes - of American cowardice," Director of the Global Research in International Affairs Center Professor Barry Rubin wrote Trend in an e-mail. "Obviously, it will gain nothing."
Two weeks ago, the House of Representatives approved a bill to impose new sanctions on Iran to halt Iran's nuclear development by majority vote. The measure initiated by Obama, suggests a ban on doing business in the U.S. on all foreign companies supplying oil products to Iran.
Furthermore, Rubin believes that Kerry's choice is a very bad one as "despite his reputation for alleged international sophistication, Kerry is known in the Senate as one of its least accomplished members".
"In 30 years, he has not initiated a single idea, piece of legislation, or even memorable speech," he said. "This is a terrible choice and it sends a dangerous signal."
Nevertheless, neither a visit by Kerry not any other U.S. senator is a promise for an Iranian-American top-level meeting, Satanovsky said.
"While Iran is ignoring both pressure and promises, by developing its nuclear program, meeting of Obama and Ahmadinejad is unlikely to take place" he said. "There are no any prerequisites for this meeting."
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