Problem Nuclear Iran, Former U.S. Official Urges Direct Dialogue

Former U.S. officials on Wednesday asked the White House begin direct talks with Iran over its nuclear activities, not just rely on penalties to persuade Tehran to change direction.

Thirty-five former diplomats, military officers and other veteran officials from both political parties issued a statement urging President Barack Obama renewed diplomatic efforts to ease tensions and to take advantage of economic punishment, which hit Iran hard.

"The United States must now be directed as much as possible the power and the ability to negotiate directly with Iran to gather broad partnership among nations to pressure and isolate Iran," the report said Iran Project free group.

"Just to take a re-balance approach, the United States may achieve its objectives with respect to Iran's nuclear activities," he said.

The report signatories include former Republican Senator Richard Lugar, Michael Hayden, CIA director under President George W. Bush; Ryan Crocker, former U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski.

Direct talks with Iran will not replace the current efforts of the state in dealing with Tehran, but diplomacy will complement the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, known as the P5 +1, the report said.

Last round of P5 +1 talks with Iran in Alma Ata on 5 to 6 April failed to produce substantial progress. Strict sanctions to suppress and may slow the progress of Iran's nuclear activities, failed to halt Tehran's enrichment of uranium, the report said.

However, the US-led pressure harden Iranian resistance, increased emphasis and sow the seeds of "shunning long term" superpower with Iran due to the difficulty of punishment, the report said.

"After 30 years of punishment and try to isolate Iran, it seems doubtful that the pressure is only going to change the decision of Iran's leaders," he said.

Direct negotiations may offer some relief from penalties as part of the deal, in exchange for "change Iran's determination to greater openness and agreement on the limits of Iran's nuclear activities", say the authors.

Given Iran's leaders firmly believe Washington wanted to overthrow the government, diplomatic progress demanded the U.S. government take "vigorous action"-beyond the rhetoric to convince Teheran-no effort to overthrow the government, the report said.

The author refers to alleged spying to weaken Tehran's government. As part of the diplomacy of nuclear deal, Washington and Tehran could also explore the possibility of cooperation on Afghanistan and Iraq, fighting drug trafficking and set up a way to prevent the incidence of armed chaos, he said.

Sources :

http://www.republika.co.id/berita/internasional/timur-tengah/13/04/18/mlgm52-soal-nuklir-iran-mantan-pejabat-as-desak-dialog-langsung