U.S. Approved Business With Iran

NY Times piece on U.S. business with countries (e.g. Iran) that are supposed to be sanctioned reminds me of a note in Kenneth Pollack's Persian Puzzle where he mentioned the same economic behavior by the U.S. as one of the major reasons for sanctions to lead nowhere. He said that in the 1990s when Clinton asked his European allies to act more vigorously on Iran, they were a bit skeptical of the plan, since they could see that American companies, at the very same time, were doing business with Iran. It brought cracks to the alliance Clinton was looking for. The present story is sending the same message again. Now, here is the question: what is the reason for those who managed to publish the story in the front runner NY Times?what is the intention at this significant moment? and is it going to break up the alliance again? SEE:

U.S. Approved Business With Blacklisted Nations

Two major events ahead of the P5+1 talks

There are two major events happening ahead of the P5+1 talks with Iran (in January):
1- Ahmadinejad's (and other Iranian politicians') visit to Turkey
2- Ratification  of the new Start Treaty in the U.S.
Iranian politicians (from Velayati, Supreme Leader's advisor,  to Ahmadinejad and his close confidante Mashayee) have lately paid visits to Turkey and have met with Turkish statesmen. There, the nuclear as well as other regional and economic issues have been on the table. It is expected that Turkey play its intermediary role in a positive way in January.
On the other hand, Obama has been able to reach an agreement with the Congress to pass the New Start Treaty with Russia. It will be a good card in the hands of Obama when P5+1 sits down with Iranians and Turks to decide on the near future of Iranian nuclear program.SEE

US-Russia 'reset' on track

Turkey, Iran ties constructive, fraternal

The real substance of the Geneva Talks

There have been many side-stories about the Geneva Talks held between Iran and P5+1 on December 5th, but perhaps the most significant is the hint on EU's acceptance of Iran's right to continue its low enrichment program- of course under strict supervision by the IAEA. This however needs to be confirmed and finalized in the next round of talks in Istanbul. There is a one month period in between pregnant with diplomatic hustles by many players involved in order to see similar/different outcome. SEE:

EU offering to okay Iran nuclear program

United States' Clinton and Iran's Mottaki at Manama Dialogue

American Move:


Iranian Response;

"Iran Primer", all U.S. knows, did, and will do about Iran?

United State's Institute of Peace has published a considerable book on Iran: The Iran Primer. 
More than 50 experts, both Iranian and American, who mostly live outside Iran (BTW), have offered their views on Iran. 
Iran's politics, foreign policy, relations with the U.S., and future road map for U.S. government are all discussed. There are many other experts on Iran living in the U.S., but for whatever reason, they have not been chosen to present their understandings. And it does not end here, there is one major defect with it. 


What is Wrong with the Primer?
The problem is not about the details. It will be very difficult to analyze and criticize every small detail in each of those 50 articles. Besides, in writing about Iran-U.S., experts often get that free hand to express their particular views of certain events. However, looked carefully, the Primer has a major weakness: It does not have genuine Islamic Republic views presented in it. If one defines the Islamic Republic as a 30 year old entity which has nurtured and implemented its own idea of the world, the Primer fails to show it by not giving Islamic Republic "elites" a chance to present their perspective of the relationship. That is what Robin Wright, despite her arduous and still valuable efforts, failed to notice when she was drawing the plan.  


All said, regardless of the academic and objectivity status of its authors, Iran Primer is going to be read and listened to, at least for a while, and that makes it an important text to read. 


See the link:

Iran Primer