Today marked the beginning of a new phase of diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran. President Obama has promised a renewed focus on diplomacy since he ran for president in 2008. So, the E3+3 and Iran met in Geneva to discuss, mainly, Iran's attempts to enrich uranium.
It has been thirty years since the Islamic revolution in Iran caused the United States to break all diplomatic ties, and the two nations have rarely engaged in talks. Among the big stories to come out of Switzerland today, Iran has agreed to allow weapons inspectors in the country. This comes as somewhat of a surprise, as it was only last week that Iran announced the existence of a second, previously unknown, nuclear enrichment site. Iran has always maintained that there nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes, and that they have an "absolute right" to nuclear energy. Iran, for it's part, claims to want total global nuclear disarmament. While this is obviously aimed at the United States (and Russia, the UK, China, France...) it is also a swipe at Israel, who have not disclosed their nuclear activities, and have not received the same negative attention. The United States has expressed some satisfaction with the progress of the talks, but says that Iran must keep to it's commitments. If all goes well, a second round of talks has been scheduled, possibly for the end of October.
This is a early foreign policy victory for Obama, and a marked departure from the last eight years. By actually talking to Iran, and not labeling them "evil," Obama has reduced the rhetoric in an already volatile region. Iran, with all of its problems, could be a strategic partner in Afghanistan. The question of Iran's nuclear program must be addressed if they wish to engage with the rest of the world. With the threat of a major, and possibly catastrophic, military encounter currently off the table, perhaps forces inside Iran can persuade the regime to adopt a more open and democratic society. All of this is possible as long as all parties involved keep talking instead of shooting.
1 comment:
Iran did help us in our initial incursion into Afghanistan, they helped us rout the Taliban, and then GWB put them into the Axis of Evil group (the *hole!). If you read Juan Cole's blog (Informed Comment), you can learn that Iran is not a threat to us. Iran has never invaded another country, and is indeed, allowed to develop nuclear power, as a signer of the nuclear treaty (which Israel is not). Good post, On the Border!
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