Iran Signaling Return to Constructive Diplomacy on Nuclear Issue

On the radar: Goodwill and flexibility ahead of talks; Interpreting Iran; Rouhani on NBC News; UNGA parley; Testing from Tinseltown; and Give peace a dance.

September 19, 2013 | Edited by Benjamin Loehrke and Alyssa Demus

Gestures and signals - “A series of good-will gestures and hints of new diplomatic flexibility from Iran’s ruling establishment was capped on Wednesday [during President Hassan Rouhani’s interview with NBC News] by the highest-level statement yet that the country’s new leaders are pushing for a compromise in negotiations over their disputed nuclear program,” writes Thomas Erdbrink of The New York Times.

--Good will gestures include an exchange of letters with President Obama, the release of political prisoners, the return of public access to social media sites, twitter diplomacy with the Jewish community and a flurry of statements - from the Supreme Leader, President and Foreign Minister - praising flexibility in negotiations over the nuclear program.

--“There has to be some sort of gesture by the U.S…Iran’s hard-liners will want to see results within six months or so. If not, expect a lot more inflexibility from Iran,” said Tehran-based political analyst Mohammad Ali Shabani. Full story here. http://nyti.ms/1aVZWtq

Is Iran ready to deal? - “The United States should not dismiss Iran's rhetoric and its apparent litmus testing as insignificant. Though a deal will be difficult, as many negotiations are, it's not impossible to reach an agreement if Iran is willing to take the steps necessary,” write Terri Lodge and Michael Wallin for CNN.

--As sensitive and difficult negotiations progress, “Congress needs to be flexible in its approach and refrain at this time from tacking on additional sanctions or authorizing military force if it is serious about giving diplomacy the room it needs to operate and not missing a possible opening.” http://bit.ly/1bteWyh

NBC interview - In an interview with NBC News’ Ann Curry in Tehran, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his government has “complete authority” on the nuclear program and has “sufficient political latitude to solve this problem.”

--Asked about Iran’s nuclear program, Rouhani said Iran’s program is for peaceful purposes, adding “under no circumstances would [Iran] seek any weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, nor will we ever.” Watch the interview here. http://nbcnews.to/14mAMyQ

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Obama open to opening - “The Obama administration is preparing for high-level meetings next week with the Iranian government on its nuclear ambitions and is open to a direct exchange between President Barack Obama and Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani, at the United Nations, according to senior U.S. officials,” write Carol Lee and Jay Solomon for The Wall Street Journal. http://on.wsj.com/18Cbhgn

Tweet - @nukes_of_hazard: So much for minimum deterrence RT @NuclearPolicy: India says it will deploy a 10-war headed MIRVed ICBM in 36 months http://t.co/GKSropWMOs

Talking past each other - “We are ready to enter the six-party talks without preconditions,” said North Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan. Negotiations have been stalled since 2008. In response to Kim’s comments, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters “the onus is on North Korea here to take meaningful actions toward denuclearization and refrain from provocations.” Full story at The Washington Post. http://ow.ly/p1gDY

Speed reads:

--”Let’s Be Honest About Israel’s Nukes” by Victor Gilinsky and Henry Sokolski in The New York Times. http://nyti.ms/1aVWA9I

--”India's Nuclear Weapons Folly” by Zachary Keck in The National Interest. http://bit.ly/1a6QQWa

--“Arab States Reintroduce Measure Opposing Israel's Nuclear Weapons” by Elaine Grossman of Global Security Newswire. http://ow.ly/p1qBk

Events:

--Book Discussion of Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident and the Illusion of Safety. Eric Schlosser. September 19 @1:20-2:45 PM. New America Foundation. http://ow.ly/oUA74

--”The U.S.-Russia Relationship: Transcending Mutual Deterrence.” Gary Samore, William Tobey, and Pavel Zolotarev. Moderated by Steven Pifer. September 30, 2:00-3:30 pm @ The Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium. Details here. http://ow.ly/oZSM9

Dessert:

A-bomb sunrise - The U.S. conducted many of its nuclear tests at the Nevada Proving Grounds. The “atomic sunrise” could be seen 270 miles away in Los Angeles as an “eerie glow” over the horizon. George Dvorsky at iO9 has the photos to prove it. http://ow.ly/p1ixf

Plutonium & Psychiana - Ever wonder what the intersection of nuclear weapons and religion looks like? Look no further than the “Nuclear Christ of Moscow, Idaho.” Cory Doctorow at Boing Boing explains the Psychiana movement, and its position towards the a-bomb. http://ow.ly/p1lwr

Dancing for diplomacy - An Iranian-American comedian Maz Jobrani and Jewish comedian Elon Gold, ask “What Would You Do For Peace?” in a new video that dropped today. Their answer: They’d give peace a dance.

--The two funny men partnered with Ploughshares Fund to do a dance for the diplomatic resolution of the dispute with Iran. Check out their jig on YouTube, sign the petition, and share your own dance here. http://givepeaceadance.org/

Tweet - @Cirincione: Comedians @mazjobrani and @elongold ask "What Would You Do For Peace?" They'll dance. Watch here. #givepeaceadance http://t.co/3SHxn3QujT