Iran: Requesting Transparency Not Suspension

Ray Takeyh, Council on Foreign Relations | May 20, 2008

While Iran's nuclear program frustrates the West and demonstrates "the limits of American power," feelings of satisfaction and success unite Iranians. ++ Western incentives for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment - such as commercial contracts - are unimaginative and defective. ++ Since Iran's regional hegemonic ambitions won't ebb, the US and its EU Allies should encourage a plan that trades enrichment for transparency, meeting both "Iran's nationalistic mandates while alleviating the great powers' proliferation concerns."