Engaging Iran on the Campaign Trail
After Iraq, Iran is widely seen as the biggest foreign policy challenge facing the next U.S. president. But other than what-if scenarios about military action posed at debates, there has been little detail emerging from the campaigns on Iran policy. Sound bites from the Democratic slate tend to stress engaging Iran and working through international levers to get Tehran to end its uranium enrichment program. From the Republicans come tough warnings emphasizing sanctions and also working through the international community to isolate Iran. In other words, both sides provide variations on the Bush administration’s policy as it has currently evolved.
On the other hand, Bill Richardson, trailing way back in polls among Democratic contenders, laid out a thoughtful, nuanced Iranian brief last night that calls for U.S. policymakers to move off their blocks a bit. As one of the country’s leading special-envoys-without-portfolio who has had a hand in the North Korean talks, Richardson is worth paying attention to on matters of nuclear diplomacy. A central theme was offering Iran unconditional talks:
We need to end the taboo on open-ended talks, so that we can begin serious, continuing, and senior-level negotiations on the full range of nuclear, Middle East security, and economic issues. Only in the context of intensifying dialogue can we start to communicate better with Iran, and to find ways to reconcile our differences.
Washington should maintain its offer of carrots to Iran to reciprocate any “gestures toward peace and reconciliation,” he said. But mindful of Iran’s involvement in all sorts of regional mischief, including new emphatic claims from the U.S. intelligence chief of Iranian arms shipments to Iraqi insurgents, Richardson adds:
We must stand absolutely firm with our international partners in letting the Iranians know that we will never allow them to acquire nuclear weapons, and that they will pay a high price if they continue to support international terrorists.
The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank today calls it a reminder of Richardson’s strong credentials as a potential vice president. Let’s see if he gets to engage his rivals on the issue at the next Democratic debate tonight.
