Historic Deal on Iranian Nuclear Technology Could Be a Move Towards Regional Stability

Stephen Henderson talks with Saeed Khan about the new deal between Iran and the United States regulating Iran’s development of nuclear technology and lifting economic sanctions.  Khan is a lecturer in the Department of Near Eastern & Asian Studies at Wayne State University. 

• Leverage and regional balance: Khan says that this is a good deal because it will provide a level of stability for a volatile region.  He says that Iran is large, central and has the fourth largest oil reserves in the world, so it has to be taken seriously.
• Successful negotiation: Khan says that this deal was crafted through painstaking negotiation, and he is optimistic about a move towards a relationship based on more negotiation.  He expects that we will see an opening of relations between Iran and the U.S. within the next few years, much like we are seeing currently between the US and Cuba. 
• U.S. example: Khan says that the U.S. demonstrating that it can handle Iran diplomatically could change the direction of international relations in the Middle East.
• Mutual trust:  Stephen asks if there is a reason U.S. leaders should trust Iran to hold to this deal.  Khan says that the U.S. should enter the deal with mutual trust and demonstrate that the U.S. acts in good faith and follows its word.  He emphasizes that Iran is a sovereign nation with its own rational goals.
• Iran’s objectives: Khan says Iran has its own practical and realistic objectives and priorities.  He says that economic sanctions and restrictions have been crippling, and that there is a lot of opportunity for economic growth. 

Click the audio link above to hear the full conversation.