- 23 July 2009
- 3 Comments
- Diplomacy, Events in Iran, Iran Election 2009, Uncategorized
Clinton says Iran unable to respond to overtures
23 July 2009 Posted By Patrick Disney
From Reuters:
LONDON (Reuters) – The United States is still willing to ‘reach out’ to Iran but political turmoil there means Tehran is not now in a position to respond, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the BBC on Thursday.
President Barack Obama made diplomatic overtures to Iran before its June 12 election, but Clinton told the BBC: “We haven’t had any response.”
She added: “We’ve certainly reached out and made it clear that’s what we’d be willing to do, even now, despite our absolute condemnation of what they’ve done in the election and since, but I don’t think they have any capacity to make that kind of decision right now.”
Clinton here is right on. Iran is currently in political paralysis–they can’t pick a cabinet, much less deal with the outside world. We should remember this when members of the US Congress call for us to rush into negotiations to meet some September deadline. Beginning an ambitious effort now for renewing bilateral ties with Iran will only ensure one thing: that talks will fail. And with neocons and hawks chomping at the bit to ramp up the pressure, it’s unlikely we’ll have a second chance.
3 Responses to “Clinton says Iran unable to respond to overtures”
You mean to tell me Iranian regime cannot chew and walk at the same time.
Are you serious? The right time is now when Iranian regime is discombobulated.
I support the effort in U.S. Congress for Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act (IRPSA). Cut the import of gasoline to Iran and in less than two weeks the regime will come to its knee. IRPSA will kill two birds with one stone-it brings about the change in the government Iranian people are asking for and U.S. gets its nuke negotiation.
You cannot expect a victorious Khamenie and his clan come to the negotiation table. And if they do it will be another Kim Jong Il story.
Megan, the USA should do no such thing. The IRPSA will only hurt the Iranian people. Given time, the Iranian people will be able to resolve their own political problems. All they need from us is the knowledge that we support them and that we are watching the regime very closely.
Ellie,
I know a lot more than you do about what Iranian people want or do not want. I know they have been asking for shutting down the import of gasoline. They do not want world community to just bear witness. They need meaningful actions.