Iran agrees to have nuclear talks with US officials

For the first time, Iran has agreed to have one-on-one negotiations with the United States over its controversial nuclear program. It is a big breakthrough, and a victory of President Obama. The backdoor negotiations with Iranian officials have finally worked out. As the progress has been achieved through diplomatic efforts, the president’s stance that the issue of Iran’s nuclear program can be resolved through dialogue and diplomatic means stands vindicated. The president has always put aside the suggestions to attack nuclear facilities of Iran.

How is the development going to help President Obama in the election campaign? The announcement has come just weeks before Election Day and a day before the final election debate. The third and final presidential debate is going to be held on Monday in Florida, where issues pertaining to foreign policy and national security are likely to come up. Obama would definitely highlight his success to bring Iran to the negotiating table.

Iran cannot remain in isolation for long. Also, economic sanctions have badly ruined the economy of the country and latest reports in the media suggest that Iran’s currency, the rial, has plummeted to an historic low. Iranian leadership has been left with no option but to reconcile with the United States and take the world powers onboard regarding the nuclear program of the country.

How is Mitt Romney likely to respond to the development? We don’t know exactly what is on his mind, but if we look back at a few statements of his, we come to know that he has always sided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu and his defense minister, Ehud Barak, believe there is no other option but to strike the nuclear facilities of Iran. Both of them have also tried to convince the Obama administration for the attack but could not do it. Romney has also been criticizing President Obama for not dealing with Iran effectively. So the Republican presidential candidate would definitely cast doubt on the development, and rightly so. How can it be assumed that Iran is serious to have meaningful dialogue with the US to resolve the issue of its nuclear program?

Iran might be using the proposed dialogue as a time-buying tactic. But how long Iran can live with the tactics? US officials should take the development seriously and work out different strategies to resolve the issue. The process of dialogue can also help Obama win the election, but only if it is taken on the right course.