Do not let this opportunity for peace with Iran pass
The United States and Iran have an opportunity to work together to create peace and stability in the Middle East.
I do not believe the nuclear negotiations with Iran are based on misguided premises that could have disastrous outcomes. The basis of these arguments seems to stem from the February 27, 2015 David Brooks article in the New York Times, “Converting the Ayatollahs.” Many critics, such as Brooks, cite outdated facts and policies that have resulted in more aggression and hostility in the region over the past several decades. Such hostilities have mutated into tragic events such as the attacks on September 11, 2001, as well as the creation of ISIS.
Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu does not appear to be interested or ready to help facilitate stability in the Middle East. His views and strategies on dealing with Iran are very destructive and counterproductive. Mr. Meir Dagan, a former head of Israel’s foreign intelligence service Mossad, has accused the prime minister of endangering the country’s security with his stance on the Iranian nuclear programme. Mr. Dagan is an architect and supporter of assassination plot of Iranian nuclear scientist and he is not by any means soft on Iran.
The Prime Minister’s actions are not only creating tensions in the Middle East but also with its ally, the United States. President Obama’s national security adviser, Susan Rice, warned that Netanyahu’s trip to Washington in this regard is “destructive to the fabric” of US-Israeli relations.
In dealing with Iran, the United States does not and should not try to “convert the Ayatollahs.” The United States and Iran do not need to share the same religion or ideologies in order to work together and create substantive progress in the region. In the 1960s there was resistance in strengthening the relations between the United States and communist China. Though neither side shared the same religious or ideological background, negotiations and agreements were created that helped further the progress of both nations.
A US-Iranian working relationship is essential, but its development is a very delicate subject that requires honest thought and consideration. American foreign policy in the Middle East cannot be led or dictated by some radical lobbyists of Israel and Saudi Arabia who believe that a “good Iran is no Iran.” A long-term cooperation and understanding amongst the United States, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Iran is necessary to have a peaceful and stable Middle East. Productive negotiation is needed to begin turning several decades of misunderstanding into a period of mutual understanding.
Source: mondoweiss.net