The announcement on May 31, 2006 by the US government that they are ready to talk directly to Iran represents the failure of the US attempt to isolate Iran. In fact, the Washington Post reported on June 1 that Germany and a growing number of foreign policy experts have been advising the White House to deal with Iran directly. China, Russia and the director of the IAEA have been asking for US direct involvement for a while.
During the more than two years that Iran had voluntarily suspended its enrichment program and had submitted to IAEA inspections at the Higher Protocol level, two of Irans requirements were direct involvement of the US and discussion of Irans security.
Now the US has accepted the first condition. Meanwhile, the Chinese ambassador to the UN has encouraged the Americans to consider a package of incentives for Iran which includes security assurances for Iran (Washington Post, June 1) and has asked the US to drop its requirement for suspension of uranium enrichment as a precondition to the talks.
Various officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have stated that while they welcome this opening of the door, they will not accept the suspension of any of their nuclear program as a precondition to talks, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
It is difficult to believe that Iran may again agree to suspend enrichment prior to talks, except perhaps with a time limit. If the White House is not genuinely ready for a real negotiation, holding to the hard line Rice has expressed, there will be a deadlock.