On April 14, the American-Iranian Council (AIC) convened a roundtable luncheon on “the Need for Strategic Thinking in U.S.-Iran Relations” at Washington D.C.'s historic Willard Hotel. Some 35 government employees, academics, senior administrators, consultants, lawyers, businessmen, and former officials (all representing organizations that are involved in engaging their Iranian counterparts) gathered to examine the various dimensions of the U.S.-Iran relationship, and to explore how they can collaborate to effectively promote engagement, and to help the Obama Administration in developing and implementing a proactive policy towards Iran. The aims of the roundtable were twofold: to explore why it is crucial to develop a strategic perspective on U.S.-Iran relations and what the elements of such vision might be, and to examine the ways in which engagement and interaction can be expanded and deepened between the two countries. The event's lead organizer was AIC's policy director, Dr. Alidad Mafinezam.