October 7th, 2008 by Jason

This afternoon the New America Foundation hosted Flynt Leverett, former Senior Director for Middle East Affairs at the NSC; and Hillary Mann Leverett, former Director for Iran and Persian Gulf Affairs at the NSC, to discuss the prospects of a comprehensive diplomatic rapprochement with Iran. The event was moderated by Steve Clemons, Director of the American Strategy Program at NAF.

Flynt Leverett noted that the strategy toward Iran for the last thirty years has failed under any definition. He said a fundamental change in policy is needed in which the U.S. places all major bilateral differences with Iran on the table and resolves them as a package.

Hillary Mann Leverett stressed the rationality and realism undergirding Iranian foreign policy. She noted the twenty-year history of instances of tactical cooperation between the U.S. and Iran.  She said the need for a comprehensive reorientation supersedes concerns for human rights and democracy within Iran. The hope is that such issues can be revisited only after a robust national security pact is secured.

For full POMED notes, click here.

Posted in DC Event Notes, Diplomacy, Iran, US foreign policy |