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The U.S. Undercuts Its Own Power in Iran Nuclear Talks

(Washington Post) Ray Takeyh - In the nuclear talks with Iran, the U.S. is not dealing with the Soviet Union but a beleaguered middling power that may still be coerced into more expansive concessions. A close reading of Iran's political scene reveals that Ayatollah Khamenei's most important red line has not been on the nuclear issue but on preventing moderates from regaining political power. Given the disparity of power between the U.S. and Iran, Washington has an opportunity to craft a durable accord for arms control while preserving its coercive leverage. Such are the advantages of being a superpower with the world's largest economy and intact alliances. But for that to happen, the U.S. must stop underestimating its power and overestimating its adversary's resilience. The writer is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
2014-02-19 00:00:00
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