Iran Enters Nuclear Talks: What To Expect? (LIVE VIDEO Q&A)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaks at a ceremony in Iran's nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz.

The stakes are high as Iranian officials prepare to meet with six world powers in Turkey this weekend.

After a 15-month hiatus, these talks about the Islamic Republic's nuclear program could be one of the last-ditch efforts for a compromise. Will the outcome mean the difference between war and peace? Global economic recovery or ruin?

Watch a previously live video discussion between HuffPost editor-at-large Nico Pitney and U.S. foreign policy reporter Joshua Hersh above.

Comments

[ladyrosedeky]

05:03 PM on 04/13/2012

I always have a problem with news agencies propping up a picture of the president of Iran when it concerns negotiations because he has no power. It is only the Ayatollah that has the power to negotiate not the president. Besides, the Ayatollah has taken all of Mahmoud's power that he did have away in that he got rid of Mahmoud's party supporters in the parliment and Mahmoud himself is on trial. So why do they put this man's picture in news stories about negotiations when they know he isn't the one in the Iranian government with the power when it comes to negotiation? That lies solely with the Ayatollah. And the Ayatollah has to know now that the threat to close the Straight of Hormuz is insignficant now since all the major players, Europe, America, and China don't need the oil that comes through it. The Straight staying open is now a regional conflict. Let the Arab League deal with Iran. Iran's Air Force only consist of F-6s and F-7s while the Saudi and Behrain Air Forces consist of F-16s. If Iran closes the Straight for the regions' commerce, let them take out Iran.

[reinenVernunft]

04:54 PM on 04/13/2012

The USRAELI delegation: "You must halt your nuclear weapons program."

The Iranian delegation: "We don't have one, but if you say so."

USRAELIS: "Stop enriching uranium to 20 percent!"

Iranians: "Well, there was that deal brokered by Turkey, with Russia and Brazil, which you all rejected. But if you insist, Russia will provide us with the enriched stuff, we could work something out. It is our right under the NPT, you know."

USRAELIS: "It's not enough. You must give up even the ability to make nuclear weapons."

Iranians: " Give up our nuclear program? Not negotiable. But we could work together for a nuclear free Middle East."

USRAELIS: "How dare you threaten Israel's right to existence." (Walk out).

Next days headlines: IRAN REFUSES TO GIVE UP WEAPONS PROGRAM; PRESIDENT OBAMA: "ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE."

[KarmaPatrol]

04:28 PM on 04/13/2012

Tell them North Korea has some rockets for sale .. cheap

[cornel]

04:23 PM on 04/13/2012

If the 5 + 1 stick to there initial demands - They want Iran to halt production of 20%-refined uranium, which could be converted relatively quickly to weapons-grade fuel; to surrender their existing stockpile of 20% uranium; and to shutter a new enrichment facility hidden inside a mountain near Qom. - I can predict failure.
Iran has the right to produce it's own uranium for civilian purposes, we have already been through this a couple of years ago. They will not let go of their right, specially not with the ultra hardliner regime in power. When it come to Qom (best carpets from Iran in my humble opinion), they will offer to have the IAEA inspect it.
Maybe people should read this -> http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_04_13/71637059/ and understand that Iran has many hidden supporters !

[norkas]

04:01 PM on 04/13/2012

I suggest that you good what the ex head of Mossad stated about 2 weeks ago in a major interview in America. He is well respected in Israel. Then I suggest you investigate what many far right Israelis are saying so I am just suggesting you did not do your home work and have your heads up your ---- as I have before because of comments I have made without research.

Some here are anti semitic and hate jews as much as the extreme right wing others have legit differences with Israel as I do at times with no other agenda.

Sadly hate for Jews in America is still strong. I was raised with it loosing 3 jobs and having fight almost full time because I was a Jew.

Please read some of the comments here carefully and you will see the same hate here.

I am against a attack on Iran and I am a Jew and know many others against it as well.

Take your hate and stuff it and learn to do some research for the truth. You toss all Jews in one pot like Hitler does and you are the ones that I truly fear

[JackVandusen]

04:34 PM on 04/13/2012

wow. talk in sweeping generalities much?

[carolineeaton]

02:46 PM on 04/13/2012

How many people figure this government will do whatever it pleases? It doesn't matter what we think, and it hasn't for some time.

[tclayjr]

02:42 PM on 04/13/2012

If the CIA had a lick of sense they would be sending tons of Thorazine to help cure their imaginary friend syndrome.

[MrWilli]

02:35 PM on 04/13/2012

Tell us, did 'it' mean war when India developed nuclear weapons? Or Pakistan? Or China? Russia? Or, pray tell, ISRAEL, arguably THE most terrorstic nation ON EARTH? Did the ENTIRE WORLD feel threatened when either of these nations had been shown to have produced a nuclear arsenal? And both the US and Israel are fully aware of the fact that, even if Iran is in process of developing a nuclear weapon, and BOTH their intelligence services have reported that this is NOT the case, there's no way in hell they will invade anybody, particularly the US or Israel. Cut the crap.

[lawa]

03:08 PM on 04/13/2012

.....& only one country used nuclear weapons, america.

[DanielAndrewDavid]

03:20 PM on 04/13/2012

I have never met a Jewish person who is able to discuss this issue rationally. They want genocide in Arab countries so jews may be "kept" safe. The probem is that Israelis are paranoid and delusional and its their behavior which creates enemies both real and imagined. The USA just goes along with them for fear of men like Speilberg, Weinstein, Bill Maher, etc falsly labeling critics as anti-semitic. Go watch an old episode of the Apprentice with Joan RIvers ---- to win she just began falsly accusing someone of being anti-semitic...it's a cultural traight of theirs.

[cornel]

04:29 PM on 04/13/2012

Not all Jews think that way. Many in Israel want peace, like the Orthodox Jews and the Hadash, also numerous people of the Labor party. The cancer destroying Israel are the Likud fascists, they are not unlike our T Baggers of the Allen West flavor.

[thankgodimanatheist8]

11:09 PM on 04/13/2012

You are wrong. Many Jewish people desire peace and can talk rationally about Israel. The problem is with the Israeli right wing and their 0.001% who gain by war and strife.

500 people from 25 families own more than 50% of the wealth in Israel and here in our country its the 400 richest multi-billionairs who own more than 50% of our wealth.

[EanFace]

02:33 PM on 04/13/2012

How would sanction effect gas prices?

With U.S. covert operation: assassinating scientist, selling parts the blow up, manufacturing protest to destabilize the nation, and selling flawed blue prints isn't it over blown political hay to talk about Iran as a nuclear threat?

Ahmadinejad doesn't have a great deal of power as a president, do you think he gets held up as a straw man for U.S. fear mongering?

[DanielAndrewDavid]

03:22 PM on 04/13/2012

Iran is now protected by Russia and China. Attacking them would essentially be another proxy war with Russia like the one we had in Afganistan with Russia in the 1980s. Can we just get out of there? Israel has the 4th largest army thanks to USA tax dollars....I think they are good.

[cornel]

04:31 PM on 04/13/2012

Don't forget Pakistan, their long time ally ! India won't play nice either, it's right on their border

[ladyrosedeky]

05:10 PM on 04/13/2012

Has anyone seen what Iran has for weaponry. I feel so sorry for their soldiers. They make their own from what they used to have back in the 60s and 70s and keep the old F6 and F7 fighters flying. The only modern equipment they have are motor cycles and one Avtobazah they bought from Russia. The Avtobazah is the only modern weapon they have. The rest look like something you'd buy from Toy'sR Us. However, their cyber war fare unit is top notch.

[ladyrosedeky]

04:55 PM on 04/13/2012

If you knew what kind of motor cycles Iran's own special forces used, you know that Iran took out their own scientist. Two of them were publicly out spoken against Iran's nuclear program. How better to handle the situation than to assassinate them and claim your enemies did it. As far as how it should effect oil prices - it shouldn't. No one needs the oil from them, Iraq, or the Saudis anymore. Russia has quaranteed Europe all it needs. We are producing what we need and China is producing their own. Is it any wonder China didn't invade Sudan when they turned off the tap that China built? All the countries that once needed that Straight to stay open don't anymore and Iran will be over playing what is now only a regional hand which the Arab League can handle readily. Have you seen Iran's Air Force vs. Saudi Arabia's and Behrain's? Iran has old F-6 and F-7 while the Saudi's and Behrain has F-16s - let them wipe out the troublesome Iran and keep the Straight open for commerce. Oil prices are dropping and will continue to drop because the Straight is no longer an issue.

[thankgodimanatheist8]

11:14 PM on 04/13/2012

You keep going on about F-6s and F-7s. What are they?

[Gestas]

02:26 PM on 04/13/2012

G.W. told us that Iraq was going to be a "Cake Walk".....Lots and lots pain and suffering in that little adventure....We should have learned something from that.

[JoeBlough]

02:44 PM on 04/13/2012

Learning from one’s past mistakes is too intellectual and elitist for this country. Better to barge right in and see what happens.

[JediChef13]

02:19 PM on 04/13/2012

Iran supplies 60 nations with crude oil. The U.S. and Isreal might want to carefully consider how they are going to treat this issue. The U.S. is currently overextended in terms of military, capital and support from home.

[DanielAndrewDavid]

03:24 PM on 04/13/2012

Israel's lobby AIPAC is now controlling the USA economy -- forcing the USA to not accept cheap oil from Iran because of thier insane desire that we adopt their fears and paranoi. The USA's loss is Russia and CHina's gain -- they are accepting Iranian oil with open arms. FYI China and Russia have nuke arsenals which would make our heads spin -- so dont even go there.

[JediChef13]

04:16 PM on 04/13/2012

Go where? I'm against any military action. Did you misread what I wrote? I thought I made it pretty clear. I was saying that any U.S. or Isreal aggression has the potential to turn 60 or more countries against us, not to mention that many of our remaining allies might not be ready to back this kind of move considering our track record for pre-emptive aggression. I also said that the U.S. lacks the military, fiscal or domestic endurance to withstand another conflict. I believe that any such actions would have dire consequence worldwide and might splinter our country.

[Joe 80]

05:26 PM on 04/13/2012

Daniel,
I noticed in an earlier post you stated that many people in the U.S. just go along with Israel out of fear over being labeled anti-Semitic by powerful Jews like Spielberg and Joan Rivers (as is a cultural trait of theirs of course).

And now, you're suggesting that the entire U.S. economy is controlled by the Jews. I sincerely hope that no one misinterprets your commentary on the dangerous worldwide Zionist conspiracy in any way as anti-Semitic. I suppose some people might consider your ideas ignorant, intolerant, and even outright bigoted ... but don't worry, they're probably Jews too.

[TAMBER]

02:16 PM on 04/13/2012

Who is negociating for the US?

[DanielAndrewDavid]

03:25 PM on 04/13/2012

AIPAC

[revr]

02:06 PM on 04/13/2012

My guess is that Iran will agree to the demands of the U. S. before the elections. It is in their best interest to do so and I think that they are pragmatic enough to know it.

[pomegrante]

04:03 PM on 04/13/2012

Oh yeah?

Don't forget China AND Russia backs Iran; China and Russia tells the U.S. and Israel where to go.

[revr]

04:06 PM on 04/13/2012

I did not forget. Watch what happens. China and Russia will tell Iran to back down.

[Reza Badei]

01:36 PM on 04/13/2012

The Man & his Flag in this photo do not represent me as an Iranian. Happy Friday to all Freedom Loving & Peace Seeking Fellow Humans On Earth...