THE IRAN PROJECT

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A New Start in U.S.-Iran Relations?

By: Jessica Mathews and Richard Nephew
Columbus, Ohio - In 2009, former U.S. diplomat Lloyd Rollins from Columbus expressed concern to the
Columbus Dispatch that the U.S. and Iran are still without diplomatic relations and still quarreling over
nuclear sites, weapons programs and human rights. He expressed sadness over the intractability of
U.S.-Iranian disputes. But, Rollins was no ordinary retired diplomat; he was also a former hostage in Iran,
one of 66 held captive in Iran during the now infamous hostage crisis of 1979-1980.
Since then, Americans have had good reason to distrust Iran and see it as an enemy. Iranians also
have had bad experiences with the U.S. government, such as the 1953 coup mounted by U.S. and British
intelligence that toppled the popular government of Iranian Prime Minister Mossadegh in order to
replace him with the Shah.
Despite these ugly chapters, might the United States and Iran now have an opportunity to change their
relationship, growing out of the implementation of the multilateral nuclear agreement negotiated by
the US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China with Iran?
This dealknown officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOAentered fully into
effect on January 16, 2016. At its core, the deal is tactical, with Iran relinquishingfor a timeits ability
to pursue a destabilizing nuclear program, and the United States and other nations relinquishing
for a timetheir ability to pursue regime-rattling economic sanctions. The deals structure reflects
the fundamental distrust between the sides, with Irans compliance monitored by the most intrusive
inspection requirements ever negotiated, and Iran retaining the option to withdraw from the deal
if sanctions relief is not fulfilled.
The deal is limited in scope. Only Irans nuclear program not the full range of destabilizing Iranian
activities is covered in the arrangement. And while other nations party to the agreement have lifted
sanctions, only a modest portion of the U.S. sanctions regime has been relieved. The comprehensive
U.S. domestic embargo against trading with Iran remains as do parts of U.S. sanctions that allow our
government to punish foreign banks and companies that facilitate illicit Iranian conduct.
Thus far, the deal is working, with international inspectors confirming Iran has faithfully implemented
its part and business now starting to go back into Iran.
The deal prevents the emergence of another nuclear-armed state in a volatile region and eliminates a
possible cause for war between the United States and Iran. Despite its limited scope, the JCPOA also opens
the possibility of workmanlike relations on a range of issues of great importance to the United States
from the future or Afghanistan to ending the civil war in Syria. But so long as Iran sponsors terrorism and
undermines the human rights of its population, there will be no opportunity for systemic rapprochement
with the United States.
Iran is also a country in transition. Should Iran decide to develop its economy and expand its contacts
with the world, there will be opportunities to develop over the long term a different type of relationship.
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Irans highly-educated young population holds far different views than those presently in charge and has
a high regard for the American people even as Iranians despise the past policies and perceived disrespect
of the U.S. government towards the Iranian people.
The United States should continue to confront Iran and its destabilizing activities in the Middle East and
beyond, in part so that Iran receives the clear message that, unless it changes its approach, the benefits of
the nuclear deal will be limited and fleeting.
But, the United States and the other nations who have committed to the agreement should ensure Iran
receives the full economic benefit of the nuclear deal, because United States keeps its word and we should
want to provide incentives for Iran to keep its word. Irans leaders will be looking for a scapegoat if their
policies prevent sanctions relief from being fully utilized. Irans leaders must be held accountable to
their population if they fail to capture this moment for economic development. Moreover, the US should
encourage those in Iran seeking to make a new start at home and with the outside world.
The United States and Iran may not be destined to be friends. But they are not required to be enemies.
We have a chance now to make the relationship at least functional. We should seize it.

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