Is Iran Serious On Talking And Negotiating With The West?

Analysts Skeptical Of Iran President's Charm Offensive -- Oren Dorell, USA Today

Iran's new president is saying he is willing to talk about its nuclear program, but he refuses to say if his country would reverse course and allow inspectors in to determine if Iran is trying to make an atomic bomb.

Iran's President Hasan Rouhani wrapped up a four-day visit to the United Nations where he tried to reset the tone of Iran's relations with the West by telling reporters Friday that Iran has always dealt transparently in talks over a nuclear program he insisted is peaceful.

Rouhani's reassuring words, however, do not match reality, analysts say, and call into question the purpose of a visit that also included an agreement to meet again soon on the nuclear issue and to seek an actual deal.

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My Comment: I am one of those who is deeply skeptical of Iranian intentions. When I first heard of this historic phone call .... my first thought was on who initiated the discussion (it was the Iranians) .... and I then asked myself the question .... why? Nothing has changed on the ground .... Iran's Revolutionary Guards have not been disbanded ..... the prisons that house Iranian political prisoners are still full .... Iran's nuclear program is continuing .... they are still supporting Hezbollah and the Assad government in Syria .... they still call the U.S. the Great Satan .... and they continue to threaten Israel and Western allies in the Middle East.

While a part of me is hopeful that this rapprochement is real .... that the Iranians do want better relations with the West .... another part of me does not see them bending .... that they are taking a page from the North Koreans on how to negotiate with the West .... say that you are serious about talks .... make the proper commitments and promises .... and after a year or two break your promises and rush to develop your nuclear arsenal. I am hope I am wrong .... but Israel and the Sunni Arabs in the Persian Gulf are now greatly alarmed by what they are seeing .... after the Syria debacle they have lost confidence in President Obama .... and it would not surprise me if in the next few days they step in and start to put the pressure on the White House to be really sure that they know what they are doing .... and more importantly .... to not keep them out of the loop.