Lebanese-Born US Envoy Michel Issa Arrives with High Expectations

Two photographs taken in Tehran shortly after the February 11, 1979, Iranian Revolution offer a lens through which to understand subsequent Middle Eastern conflicts and political realignments.

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It is impossible to tell the story of the modern Middle East without dwelling on both of them.

The first image depicts Ayatollah Khomeini, the architect of the revolution, seated with Yasser Arafat, the founder of the modern Palestinian national movement. Also present are Lebanese cleric Hani Fahs, Iranian cleric Sadegh Khalkhali, and Ahmad Khomeini, the revolutionary leader's son. The second photograph shows Arafat addressing a crowd after the Palestinian flag was raised over the former Israeli embassy in Tehran, with Mahmoud Abbas, now president of the Palestinian Authority, standing nearby.

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During his long years in exile in Najaf, Khomeini had understood that Palestine was the magic word that opened Arab and Muslim hearts.

These scenes held profound symbolism. During his exile, Khomeini recognized Palestine as a unifying cause that could resonate across the Arab and Muslim world, potentially serving as a bridge for the Shiite revolution into the predominantly Sunni sphere. Iran's embrace of Arafat, then an unrivaled global symbol of the Palestinian struggle, was thus a natural strategic move. Simultaneously, Arafat welcomed Iran's dramatic shift from a state allied with Israel to one proclaiming full support for the Palestinian revolution.

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He may have believed that embracing the Palestinian cause would provide a passport for a Shiite revolution seeking entry into the vast Sunni world.

Despite lavishing praise on his hosts, Arafat, experienced in navigating complex geopolitical landscapes, was cautious not to cede his agency. He had a history of dealing with leaders who sought to leverage the Palestinian cause for their own legitimacy or regional influence. Palestine was not Arafat's sole asset; he also controlled the dynamics of war and peace in southern Lebanon, a region that effectively served as a Palestinian-Israeli border before evolving into an Iranian-Israeli frontier. This authority later passed to Hassan Nasrallah, the late secretary-general of Hezbollah. Arafat's astute understanding of the sensitivities surrounding relations with Iran, a Shiite revolution seeking to "export" itself into a Sunni world, became evident when he attempted to mediate during the Iran-Iraq War.

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As always, Arafat lavished praise on his hosts. Yet experience had taught him not to surrender his cards to anyone.