As the next round of international talks over Iran's nuclear program approaches, both sides find themselves in familiar positions. Despite agreeing to use the nuclear non-proliferation treaty as the basis for a step-by-step approach based on reciprocity, the devil has remained in the details. Iran is pushing to broaden the agenda to include regional security issues, while the six global powers prefer to keep the focus solely on Iran's nuclear program.
This is nothing new. Iran has on numerous occasions repeated its interest in going beyond the most difficult issue on the table -- its nuclear program -- and discussing additional regional security issues such as Syria, Bahrain, Afghanistan and Iraq. While there is a basis for dialogue on these issues, such discussions cannot happen if Iranian officials will not talk to their American counterparts directly.
In Moscow, Iran must not repeat the disastrous mistake that it has made on three successive occasions -- January 2011 in Istanbul, April 2012 in Istanbul, and May 2012 in Baghdad. During those meetings, Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili was under direct instructions to avoid a bilateral meeting with his American counterpart.
Adding insult to injury is the fact that now-Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and current Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman are two of only a handful of senior U.S. officials that will seriously consider Iranian concerns. Burns and Jalili had a productive meeting in 2009 on the sidelines of negotiations in Geneva. In addition to discussing the oft-mentioned Tehran Research Reactor deal, Burns made clear to Jalili that America's interest in dialogue is not just about Iran's nuclear program -- but rather about finding new ways to engage on a range of issues.
Tragically, those 2009 talks are the only direct, high-level talks between the U.S. and Iran during Barack Obama's presidency.
If Iranian negotiators won't talk to Sherman in Moscow, they can rest assured that almost no one else in Washington will listen to them. Tehran knows the opportunity is there. The Obama administration will continue to doubt Tehran's sincerity in negotiations if Iranian decision-makers insist on administering this massive self-inflicted wound.
Iranian and American officials must resume talks at that high level again -- and about much more than Iran's nuclear program. As Washington prepares for talks in Moscow, it should use the P5+1 mechanism to privately convey a key message to Tehran: Wendy Sherman looks forward to a 30-minute to one hour-long bilateral meeting with Saeed Jalili. This is non-negotiable, and she is prepared to listen to Iranian concerns on all issues. In the immediate round of talks following Moscow, Sherman is willing to explore areas for potential agreement and further discussion after reporting back to their respective capitals.
Few doubt the high degree of discipline in Iran's diplomacy. But when that discipline represents a nervous diplomatic strategy with little creativity or ingenuity in style, it makes Iranian negotiators one-dimensional. Long gone are the days of former chief nuclear negotiator, Hassan Rowhani -- a tough advocate for Iran's interests, but pragmatic enough to operate with eloquence and credibility in an effort to keep a modicum of cooperation alive.
Conflict between America and Iran has reached the precipice of war, and there is more than enough blame to go around. Miscommunication, misperceptions and miscalculations by both sides have created a self-perpetuating cycle of escalation. Now, for the first time in decades, they are engaged in a sustained diplomatic process. With an uncertain U.S. presidential election looming, this may be Tehran's last best chance to do its part in untangling the mutual demonization driving the conflict. Iran must make up its mind. Its decision on whether to engage the U.S. directly in Moscow will be telling.
Reza Marashi is director of research at the National Iranian American Council.
Follow Reza Marashi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@rezamarashi
Dan Froomkin: Questions About Afghanistan, If Congress Cared Enough to Ask Them
I would describe it more as an aoartheid ethnocracy, but Israel is certainly certainly headed towards a theocracy.
Nice try booboo, no dice.
They've made it abundantly clear what they don't want - interference from the US on any way.
As is your Islamiphobia.
Of course it's recognized as it was before 1979. Cutting off diplomatic relations didn't unrecognized Iran.
Yes there is. When Hezbollah defeated Israel in 2006, Nasrallah became a hero throughout the entire Arab world.
>>Most Sunni hate the Shia more than Israel.
Wrong again. It was Sunni and Shiite states that were at war with Israel in 1948.
Please stop flooding the comment section with an interminable series of two-line comments. Can't you collect your thoughts and write a single comment that summarizes your views? I agree with most of what you say but I find it extremely irritating to see all these comments.
Just like those operates by the US puppet Shah.
From TNR? Thanks for the comic relief!!
China and Russia will. There is no way an attack will be authorized by the UNSC, so the US/Israel will have to go it alone.
>> And Israel is well aware of Irans military isolation
Israel can't lay a finger on Iran. 3 recent reports confirmed it would be futile for them to even try.
Wait and see. When Hezbollah defeated Israel in 2006, Nasrallah became a hero throughout the Arab world - both Sunni hate the Shia more than Israel.
There is no nation on earth willing to actually fight for the regime in Iran.
Not Russia, not China.
And Israel is well aware of Irans military isolation.
All of whom were returned alive AFTER 25 years of the brutal rule under the Shah.
>> the Iran/Hezbollah suicide bombing in Beirut in '83... and the '96 bombing.
Why ate you leaving out the shelling of Southern Lebanon by the USS New Jersey?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_New_Jersey_(BB-62)
Oh yes, those wonderful exiles like the Marxist MEK cult leadership that has zero support in Iran.
The fact is that anyone exiled from Iran has no support among the Iranian population.
Moscow talks
AFP: Iran and world powers on Monday locked horns in hours of tense talks in Moscow seeking a diplomatic solution to the crisis over Tehran's nuclear programme with no breakthrough in sight. A member of the Iranian delegation gave a downbeat assessment well into the second session in the afternoon. "So far the atmosphere is not positive," he said, adding: "Setting up the framework (for negotiation) is the main problem." Chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili was meeting with envoys from six world powers including Tehran's arch-foe the United States as well as EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton for two days of talks >>>
http://www.iranian.com/main/2012/jun/iran-world-powers-fail-bridge-nuclear-impasse
Tribunal of Conscience
Uncovering IRI's Crimes Against Humanity
http://www.iranian.com/main/2012/jun/tribunal-conscience
http://www.irantribunal.com/Eng/EnHome.html
Live broadcast of Court hearing:
“May this Tribunal prevent the crime of silence“…?
I went directly to the livestreaming link:
http://www.livestream.com/irantribunal
I kept refreshing the page until I got in.