Obama Faces Long Odds on Iran Diplomacy
The president is trying to reach out to Iran, but it's hard to figure out what the regime really wants
But Obama may not be the only reason Iranian leaders are considering some gestures of their own. The plunge in oil prices has hit hard; 80 percent of Iran's foreign income comes from oil. Sanctions and pressure from the West have shrunk new investments in energy and spurred capital flight. With Ahmadinejad blamed for high unemployment and inflation and facing a tough re-election contest in June, he may be looking for a diplomatic victory.
Still, it is a near certainty that Obama will need more than a little perseverance on the Iranian nuclear talks. Whether it is the Saberi case, vitriol from parts of Tehran's sparring elite, or future Iranian moves, disputes apart from the nuclear challenge will almost certainly be intruding. To stay on track, says Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council, Obama will have to decide that "a rapprochement is a key U.S. objective that cannot be allowed to be derailed."
Reader Comments
Iranian people support their nuclear program
Iran's nuclear program -- which started under the Shah at the encouragement of the United States -- is massively popular amongst the people of Iran. By threatening Iran, the US is just fitting itself into the shoes of the Imperial British and Russians whom Iranians resent to this day for trying to dominate their country.
It's time to move beyond Mollahs
If you in the West want to try to pursuade Iranians to abandon nuclear weapons, it's best to talk to the peoples of Iran directly and bypass the Mollahs. If you want to play short term gain geo-politics, keep talking to the dieing old Mollahs that we Iranians have written off as the corrupters on earth.
The choice is clear. The peoples of Iran are planning post Mollah parties and are looking down the line past Khamanei's burial. So stop beating the dead horse of Islamic Republic to bring it back to life.
Like communism, mullahism is dead too. It's time the West learns this. Also know that it is the Iranians that own Iran, NOT the mollahs. So talk to the real owners of Iran, join the party and stop calling our nation by its buried name. You'll gain more.
Female journalist in Iran
Insha-Allah this woman's chastity is guarded, and that her salats are not hampered, and all courtesy is shown to her, despite any misunderstanding. Whether in violation of Islamic Law, jurisprudence, Hadith, Sunnah, or if it is political/judicial then we are sure the appropriate protocol is being followed. If sincerity is the underlining motivation, then again, Insha/Masha-Allah things will proceed accordingly. We don't want to question Allah's ultimate purpose with His hand in the situation. Therefore, once the laws of Allah, nature, and the land plays its role, the proper outcome will occur.
Peace, peace;
Patrick O. Christian
American Fundamentalist Movement
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