by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
"If the United States is able to set a new tone in context with the relationship in Afghanistan and elsewhere I think in of that itself will change the nuclear calculations of Iran's leadership." said Karim Sadjadpour, an associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
In a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled "Iranian Political and Nuclear Realities and U.S. Policy Options" witnesses gave their recommendations on how the U.S. should approach Iran concerning nuclear production. The hearing comes after a report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stating that Natanz, an Iranian nuclear plant, has gained enough reactor-grade uranium to allow Iran to create an atomic bomb.
Sadjapour focused on three key options that he thinks the U.S. should follow. The first being to commence the dialogue with Iran by aiming to build confidence on areas of common interest such as Afghanistan and Iraq rather than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the nuclear issue. "Focus on Supreme leader in Iran, Khamenei not the President, Ahmadinejad. If I had to describe him (Ahmadinejad) in one word, is mistrustful...He believes that if you compromise you project weakness." he said. Sadjapour also stated that it is imperative that the U.S. maintain an airtight international approach saying that each country should approach Iran with the same talking points.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Zambia and Egypt, Frank Wisner, said that Iran is important, Iran is dangerous and Iran is urgent. "I do not believe in the military option...there is no room for a military response...the issues of national survival that are first and foremost on Iran's mind gives me some hope that we can get traction if we chose to engage and engage fully but I won't pretend for a moment that dealing with Iranians will not be extremely tough. There will be many setbacks and many deceptions...I personally welcome as I'm certain all of us do, an appointment of a new special representative to take a hard look at Iran and our foreign policies." he concluded.
How does the U.S. approach Iran?
"If the United States is able to set a new tone in context with the
relationship in Afghanistan and elsewhere I think in of that
itself will change the nuclear calculations of Iran's leadership."
said Karim Sadjadpour, an associate at the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace.
In a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled "Iranian
Political and Nuclear Realities and U.S. Policy Options" witnesses
gave their recommendations on how the U.S. should approach Iran
concerning nuclear production. The hearing comes after a report
released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stating that
Natanz, an Iranian nuclear plant, has gained enough reactor-grade
uranium to allow Iran to create an atomic bomb.
Sadjapour focused on three key options that he thinks the U.S. should
follow. The first being to commence the dialogue with Iran by aiming
to build confidence on areas of common interest such as Afghanistan
and Iraq rather than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the nuclear
issue. "Focus on Supreme leader in Iran, Khamenei not the President,
Ahmadinejad. If I had to describe him (Ahmadinejad) in one word, is
mistrustful...He believes that if you compromise you project
weakness." he said. Sadjapour also stated that it is imperative that
the U.S. maintain an airtight international approach saying that each
country should approach Iran with the same talking points.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Zambia and Egypt, Frank Wisner, said that Iran
is important, Iran is dangerous and Iran is urgent. "I do not believe
in the military option...there is no room for a military
response...the issues of national survival that are first and foremost
on Iran's mind gives me some hope that we can get traction if we chose
to engage and engage fully but I won't pretend for a moment that
dealing with Iranians will not be extremely tough. There will be many
setbacks and many deceptions...I personally welcome as I'm certain all
of us do, an appointment of a new special representative to take a
hard look at Iran and our foreign policies." he concluded.