Negotiations, Sanctions, and Iranian Politics
In: Scholars for Peace in the Middle East Conference 2009--
On an issue as complex as that of the Iranian nuclear program, analysts have an obligation to firmly uphold the importance of first principles, not just the latest twists and turns which so dominate the news and can distract policymakers. Three such principles are: by what yardsticks can diplomacy's progress be judged? what would constitute success for sanctions? and what are the key concerns of the Iranian side in the negotiations?