Hooshang Amirahmadi and Shahir ShahidSaless

American Iranian Council

The objectives of this essay are threefold. First, to seek an answer to the question of why Iran and the US do not or cannot engage in a process of sustained dialogue aimed at détente and minimal cooperation; second, to demonstrate that the current US policies towards Iran’s nuclear program will likely fail, leading to either nuclear weaponization of Iran or war; and third, to offer corrective policy adjustments aimed at détente and ending the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program. There are several points of friction between the US and Iran. However, what is highly noteworthy is that the two countries are locked in a rare relationship: Their governments cannot talk in a meaningful and consistent way to each other. This pattern was not seen even during the Cold-War era between the US and its communist adverseries. If the factors contributing to the perpetuation of this state of non-communication (or failing engagement) continue to be ignored, it would be unreasonable to expect a negotiated solution.