Knowing When To Say When
It is now generally reported in the media that the administration has made it known to Iran of their openness to negotiations with respect to it's nuclear program. Various terms of the preliminary offer include US nuclear assistance and the waiving of certain sanctions. The process is at a very early phase. Iran should take up the offer of negotiations. The administration's insistence that Tehran be willing to suspend it's enrichment program is not a non-starter. It's clear that any such suspension would be voluntary and predicated upon the success of the negotiations. It is reasonable that Tehran accept such a precondition. It has already reached the technological threshold it wanted so it can afford giving a little here.
Iran's objectives are within reach. Although a negotiated settlement is still far from being achieved, it should respond by supporting the diplomatic opening that has arisen. A voluntary suspension is within it's power to grant and it should have the courage of it's convictions to do so. The administration has given a little, now Iran should too.
posted by antiradical at 4:00 PM
2 Comments:
I can never understand why belligerence is rewarded by those on the left. Iran makes out better by this deal than they would have if they never would have tried to enrich uranium in the first place. If a child is bad in the classroom, should we give him a lollipop to make him behave more apropriately?
I agree with you, but do take note that this analysis assumes that the aims of the players in Iran are to negotiate with the United States. What I mean by this, is what if Ahmedinejad's faction can only succeed in its drive to replace Khamenei, by ratcheting up tensions with the United States? There have been reports indicating such a power play within Iran. It is ironic, given the fact that Khamenei brought Ahmedinejad to power to try to rekindle the revolution, only to have Ahmedinejad move against the Supreme leader. I'm curious to know if you've heard anything similar, elsewhere, and if so, how would those claculations affect the manner in which Iran responds to the American offer.
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