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SHAPE SHIFTING: New US Policy on Iran

FreeChile

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Anyone know why the change in policy? Also, is Iran likely to accept it?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13048821/

U.S. agrees to talks with Iran on nuke program
But meetings contingent on Tehran renouncing uranium enrichment

WASHINGTON - In a major policy shift, the United States said Wednesday it is prepared to join other nations in holding direct talks with Iran on its nuclear program if Iran first agrees to stop disputed nuclear activities that the West fears could lead to a bomb.
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it's probably just a stalling tactic whilst they load up the bunker busters.....:D

seriously, i think its the obvious next step - it gives a diplomatic solution a chance, whilst ensuring that if it fails, the US will be able to garner greater international support for any sanctions/attack......ie you can't really justify something as a "last resort" until you've fully exhausted all the other options....
 
The only real difference is that what has been going on behind the scenes for years has been made public. The USA has been behind (and I don't mean in a controlling way even though they will have had a lot of influence of course) the various negotiations headed by the "EU 3" over the last few years.

It's good all the pretence has been dropped as it was just a silly political (in the sense of wouldn't have been popular) stance the USA had been adopting for many years. It's also good because as andyandy says you can't claim "we've tried everything" when you won't even talk to them!

Personally I don't think it will make any difference but it should be tried.
 
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Is it Pure Propaganda

The Iranian Government believes this is pure propaganda. Is that the case?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13048821/

“We’re never going to negotiate the cycle of nuclear fuel that we have been able to achieve with the efforts of our country’s scientists,” Sayed Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh told the Venezuela-based TV station Telesur, according to a partial transcript of his remarks.

In Tehran on Wednesday, the official Iranian news agency initially criticized the U.S. offer as “a propaganda move.”

“It’s evident that the Islamic Republic of Iran only accepts proposals and conditions that meet the interests of the nation and the country. Halting enrichment definitely doesn’t meet such interests,” IRNA said.
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if, as reported on the BBC website, they're planning to

offer Iran help with its civilian nuclear programme and guaranteed supplies of reactor fuel, as well as various trade advantages and security guarantees.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5036082.stm

then that's a pretty good stab at a diplomatic solution....it doesn't seem just like a propaganda exercise. Of course, it's pretty much a win-win situation for the US....
either it leads to a diplomatic solution, or if the Iranians reject the offer it hardens international relations against them....
 
andyandy said:
...then that's a pretty good stab at a diplomatic solution....it doesn't seem just like a propaganda exercise. Of course, it's pretty much a win-win situation for the US....
either it leads to a diplomatic solution, or if the Iranians reject the offer it hardens international relations against them....
Click to expand...

Rejected. I expect this will become another harsh lesson in the ongoing education of "advanced" nations that not all countries wring their hands over the perceptions of their neighbors, particularly when backed by no force, zero resolve, and a complete lack of credibility.

I do sincerely hope the US's overture was indeed a nakedly cynical ploy and not a failure to understand this oft-repeated truth.
 
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This was probably all a counter-strike to the letter by Iran to Bush to try to influence the opinion of the public and officials involved.

It all goes to show how effective discussions between the two parties can become.
 
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