 The Conundrum of Iran: Strengthening Moderates without Acquiescing to BelligerenceJohn Brennan The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 2008, vol. 618, issue 1, 168-179 Abstract: After nearly three decades of antagonistic rhetoric and diplomatic estrangement between the United States and Iran, the next president has the opportunity to set a new course for relations between the two countries. When the next president takes up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Iranian officials will be listening. The president must implement a policy of engagement that encourages moderates in Iran without implying tolerance for Tehran's historic support of terrorist activities. This strategy will require patience and sensitivity to the complex political realities inside Iran. To successfully chart a new course for U.S.-Iranian relations, the next president must (1) tone down rhetoric; (2) establish a direct dialogue with Tehran, including comprehensive, private discussions and deployment of a special envoy; (3) encourage greater assimilation of Hezbollah into Lebanon's political system; and (4) offer carrots in addition to sticks, including consideration of legitimate Iranian concerns on regional security issues. Keywords: Iran; Hezbollah; United States; state-sponsored terrorism; Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps; IRGC; Shia Islam (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:anname:v:618:y:2008:i:1:p:168-179 Access Statistics for this article More articles in The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science |
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