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What Motivates Iranian Diplomacy?

(Commentary) Michael Rubin - American leaders' habit of projecting Western motivations and sincerity onto partners often opens the door for adversaries to outplay the State Department at the bargaining table. Within days of the original Iran hostage crisis, for example, Iranian intermediaries accepted offers to negotiate with the Americans. There was absolutely no progress, however, nor did Tehran mean there to be. The strategy continued under George W. Bush. Despite building a covert enrichment plant and experimenting with nuclear triggers that only had military applications, Iran defused any serious repercussions by offering to negotiate with the EU. Hassan Rouhani, at the time Iran's National Security Council chairman, later bragged about how he had played the Europeans. Never before has a country repeatedly declared its goal was "death to America," taken clear actions to achieve that aim, and suffered no serious consequences for its actions. The Iranians hint at diplomacy, and get a free pass. They realize that by feigning sincerity, they can achieve their nuclear aims. The writer is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.
2015-03-27 00:00:00
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