Diplomacy with Iran and Political Theatre
Though Iran is poised to be a major foreign policy issue (or political football) in the 2012 elections, Obama’s speech at the U.N. only mentioned Iran in passing. And Ahmadinejad’s predictably controversial speech at the U.N. today will hardly provide for political openings to engage for U.S.-Iran engagement. Yet the immediacy of the need to dialogue […]
Taking “Yes” for an Answer
Reviving an issue that most observers have declared to be dead in the water, the Federation of American Scientists is calling on the US to accept Iran’s counter-proposal on the Tehran Research Reactor fuel-swap. In sum, the P5+1 should agree to Iran’s proposal to place 1200kg of low-enriched uranium (LEU) under IAEA seals inside Iran, […]
Mottaki: In talks, we will not buy expensively nor sell cheaply
IRNA has an interview with Manouchehr Mottaki about US-Iran relations. Policymakers will be interested to know how he frames the issue. He denies an alleged meeting with US congressmen, contrary to what Iran’s own al-Alam network has reported. From IRNA: In a statement that appears simple but in reality is laden with meaning, Iran’s Foreign Minister said: “Since […]
Iran Fields Third-Party Enrichment Offers
According to the IRNA news agency, Iran has received offers to provide it with uranium enriched to nearly 20 percent for nuclear reactor fuel use, pursuant to recent proposals outlined in talks for third party enrichment. Western diplomats said Iran had agreed in principle at October 1 talks in Geneva to send about 80 percent […]
Insight into Iranian Government’s Thinking
Iranian government media are quoting Mehdi Mohammadi, a “nuclear expert” inside Iran, in statements that are likely to come to reflect the official government line. Here are snippets of IRNA’s article entitled “The News of Iran’s new Enrichment Installations has left the West Confounded:” “In the past years, the Westerners have repeatedly said that Iran […]
From the National Review Online
Over at The Corner: Red Meat Takes on Iran [NRO Staff] Why are negotiations with Iran doomed to be fruitless? How might the administration use military force against Iran? What does the return of the Clinton team to our foreign policy bode for our relations with Iran? Special guest Mario Loyola, a former adviser in […]
Sources confirming Dennis Ross appointment as Iran envoy
According to Marc Ambinder, transition officials are confirming now that Dennis Ross will be appointed as the chief envoy to Iran under President Obama. Though it’s not official until the administration announces it formally, this is looking like a done deal. Ross is best known for his work as chief negotiator on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict […]