Iran: No Talks Unless US Leaves Middle East

The Iranian Fars News Agency reported October 14 that a top adviser to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, said Tehran would not engage in talks with the United States unless its military forces withdrew from the Middle East and the United States ended its support to Israel.

Fars said Mahdi Kalhor, a cultural and media affairs adviser, said over the previous weekend "...that as long as US forces remain in the region and the US backs Israel, talks will not take place." Fars notes that Kalhor's remarks may not represent government thinking, which is important to understand. Not only is Kahlor not a foreign policy guy, but Ahmadinejad doesn't hold the real power in Iran.

The United States and Iran certainly have a lot to talk about, and Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has stressed dialogue with Iran as a key component of his foreign policy approach should he be elected president November 4. Hot-button issues include Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program and Iran's meddling in internal Iraqi affairs.

If for no other reason, the Fars article is worth the time spent reading it just for the Iranian spin on the nuclear program. It's the evil west persecuting a peaceful Iran simply trying to develop a civilian nuclear capacity. Actually, the word used in the article is "irrational."

Three rounds of United Nations sanctions and unilateral economic actions independently undertaken by the United States and the European Union have thus far had no effect on Iran's stance over the nuclear issue. Debate continues over a possible fourth round of sanctions against Iran, but without firm support from China and Russia, which is unlikely at best, any additional sanctions will probably be as meaningless as the previous three rounds.

The United States and Iran have not had formal diplomatic relations since just after the Iranian hostage crisis nearly 30 years ago. Of course, the two countries still communicate through third parties, but only when they need to and strictly on an informal basis. That is not likely to change anytime in the near future. Even if Barack Obama were to win the presidency, it is unlikely that Tehran will conduct any serious negotiations or establish formal diplomatic relations unless it feels it is doing so from a position of strength relative to the United States. Simply being willing to sit down and talk with Iran is not enough. The Iranians will expect concessions that at least give the appearance of having the upper hand to Tehran.