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Extracted Text (OCR)
wants: such as sanctions relief; acceptance
of its right under the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty to enrich uranium to a
low level for peaceful purposes;
recognition of its security interests, of the
legitimacy of its Islamic regime born out of
the 1979 revolution, and of its place in the
region as a major power.
The P5+1, which are due to meet Iran later
this month, remain so divided that they are
unlikely to improve substantially on their
previous miserly offer, which was to
provide Iran with some airplane spare parts
if it gave up uranium enrichment to 20% --
its trump card. It is the paralysis of Iran’s
dealings with the P5+1 that has lent
credence to the idea that the best hope of a
breakthrough may lie in bilateral U.S.-
Iranian talks -- perhaps even a summit
meeting between President Obama and
Ayatollah Khomeini.
For such a summit to be successful the
United States would have to change its
approach. Iran’s supreme leader has made
clear that Iran will not negotiate under
threat of attack. There would have to be
give and take. Above all, Iran wants to be
treated with respect. This is the challenge
facing Obama.
It is worth remembering that there is as yet
no evidence whatsoever that Iran has
decided to build nuclear weapons. Nor has
it developed a reliable delivery system.
Instead, it has focussed its efforts on
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