The deal is this.... Although no formal Diplomatic relations exist between the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and the United States, communications between the two nations have been going on through back channels since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. This is done mainly through the Swiss who act as an intermediary between the two. Beginning with the fall of the Shah in January of 1979 formal relations between the two deteriorated, culmination with the complete cessation of relation as a result of the Iranian Hostage crisis that began in December 1979. The reason for the suspension of formal relations is quite obvious... Iranian "students", under direction from the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, stormed the US Embassy and held American diplomats and a handful of Marines hostage for 444 days. Following their release, both governments refused to resume relations for a number of reasons. The US claims that the Iranians are a state sponsor of terrorism, are in violation of the Nuclear Non-proliferation act, and a chronic abuser of human rights, are cited as the reason for refusing to resume these relations. The Iranians claim that the US continues to meddle in regional affairs as well as the continued US support for Israel as major reasons for their refusal to talk to the US. One needs to be reminded that while no formal state to state relations exist between the two the both interact in the UN as well as other International Organizations. Therefore to think that no communications exist between two is erroneous.
That being said, I for one do not favor the resumption of normal diplomatic relations, nor the notion of a face to face sit down between the two governments, as circumstances exist today. The reason for this being that Diplomatic relations are creatures of compromise. Whenever two nations sit down to formal negotiations, especially between the heads of state, both come prepared to make concessions to the other. The question is, who will give up more. In the case of the US / Iranian negations, the US should not be prepared to concede one thing to Iran because of the nature of the disagreement. The Iranians continue to peruse nuclear weapons through the guise a civilian power generation, something they vow to never stop. Any concession short of complete abandonment of the program will leave some elements of the program intact and functional. This is not acceptable to the US or its interests. As for the terrorism aspect of the equation, because of the clandestine nature of Iranian support, no agreement can be verified or policed, therefore making any agreement by the Iranians to cease sponsorship of terrorism a moot point. The use of terrorism as a means for exporting the Islamic Revolution is deeply engrained in the overall operational strategy of the IRI mainly because of its effectiveness in bringing about the 1979 revolution. This drive to export the revolution is ingrained in their "constitution" and remains a major facet of its regional, and international foreign policy (see Hamas and Hezbolla). To resume diplomatic relations with such a duplicitous and dangerous regime would only serve to elevate the legitimacy of the government and the actions it has taken in the past. To do so would only reinforce the power of their government and elevate its stature as a regional and burgeoning world power.
Often those in favor of the resumption of diplomatic relations with the IRI point to the successes of the Diplomatic negotiation between the US and USSR during the 1970's and '80's. This is not a fair comparison to make due to the nature and goals of the respective governments. The Soviets were rational players on the world stage who had a great deal to loose unless it was able to maintain respect amongst the worlds governments. The IRI is quite a different story. They have nothing to loose and everything to gain by engaging in negotiations with the US. Once the US says, ok you can have a small nuclear program, the proverbial cat is out of the bag because then they can come back in a few years and say well if a small nuclear program is OK then one a little larger must be Ok too.... on and on it goes. The US cannot allow the IRI to have a nuclear program of any size because of the threat it poses to the US and its interests across the globe. The statements made by the current leadership of Iran spells out their intentions better than any statements made by a dictator since Mein Kampf was written back in the 1920's, and we all know how that ended (unless you are the produce of today's public school system). Their intentions to destroy Israel and the US are unmistakable and real, and to ignore what they say is not only dangerous, it is deadly. To engage in face to face talks on any level, let alone a presidential level, is naive and irresponsible because of the leverage it gives to that régime.
sorry to be so long winded......
Keep on chuckin'
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