Summit Diplomacy

The way in which Tehran manages relations with its Arab guests at the Islamic Conference Organisation (ICO) Summit, held from 9-11 December as GSN went to press, will tell us a great deal about the power that President Khatami is able to exercise over Iran’s foreign policy. The crisis over velayet-e faqih that erupted in the runup to the Summit may have indicated that the hardliners will not allow Khatami to have it all his own way.