Regarding Secretary of State John F. Kerrys July 1 op-ed, Time is running out for Iraq to choose its future:In his sensible and timely commentary, Mr. Kerry contended that all along, these negotiations have been about a choice for Irans leaders. .?.?. Now Iran must choose. However, it is equally the United States that must face the emerging realities, shift its paradigm and choose to treat Iran as a potential future ally or further alienate it.
As recent events in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East have shown, U.S. national interests in the region can only be served through bilateral, face-to-face diplomacy. Iran and the United States common goal should be reaching a grand deal a tangible, verifiable and sustainable security guarantee to Iran by the United States and its Western allies in return for a complete opening of Irans nuclear programs to the International Atomic Energy Agency to assure the West of its peaceful nature. This deal should furnish security guarantees to Iran and, in parallel, garner its full and unconditional support for stabilizing the broader Middle East from Afghanistan to Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
It is refreshing to see that Mr. Kerry refrained from using the cliche that all options are on the table and is following the advice of the first secretary of state, Thomas Jefferson, who said: I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.
By The Washington Post
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
