Q&A
Aaron David Miller, Karim Sadjadpour, Robin Wright
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Source: Getty
In The Media
What To Expect, As United States And Iran Resume Nuclear Talks
Failed talks on Iran’s nuclear program could lead to a managed irresolution, where the two sides fail to meet in the same place but also recognize that it is in the best interests of both parties to have the talks keep going.
Published on Feb 20, 2015
Source: WBUR Here and Now
As Iran and the United States were preparing for another round of talks on Iran’s nuclear program in Geneva, Carnegie’s Karim Sadjadpour discussed the possible outcomes of the ongoing talks with WBUR Here and Now. He said that the main outstanding issues between the negotiating parties right now include the number of centrifuges Iran should be allowed, the length of time the agreement should hold for, and how the sanctions should be phased out.Sadjadpour added that more recent news about the talks offer some optimistic signs about concluding the deal, but the news often swing between optimism and pessimism. One of the obstacles to successfully concluding the talks is the hardliners in Tehran “who are fearful that if a nuclear deal happens that could spur greater U.S.-Iran cooperation, which could undermine their hold on power,” Sadjadpour said.
Sadjadpour concluded that if the talks failed, this would not necessarily lead to military action against Tehran. Instead, “a more likely possibility is that there isn’t a comprehensive resolution.” This would lead to what Sadjadpour refers to as a “managed irresolution,” which means that “the two sides fail to meet in the same place” but also recognize that it is in the best interest of both parties to “have the talks keep going.”
This interview was originally broadcast by WBUR Here and Now.
About the Author
Karim Sadjadpour
Senior Fellow, Middle East Program
Karim Sadjadpour is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he focuses on Iran and U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East.
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Carnegie India does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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