Negotiating with Iran
Abstract
This document presents the testimony of James Dobbins, The RAND Corporation, before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives on November 7, 2007. Mr. Dobbins begins his testimony by relating his experiences negotiating with Russia, India, Germany, Iran, and the Northern Alliance as the United States' representative to the Afghan opposition at the Bonn Conference in December 2001. The purpose of the Bonn Conference was to decide on a plan for governing Afghanistan after the Taliban defeat. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, was instrumental in achieving an agreement that the Northern Alliance would accept. Mr. Dobbins also describes the Iranian delegation's involvement in the Hamid Karzai inauguration, and at the Tokyo Donors Conference, at which Iran pledged almost twice the financial aid to Afghanistan that the United States pledged. An Iranian diplomat at this conference stated his government's desire to continue to cooperate with the United States on Afghanistan. Mr. Dobbins warned that the Iranians' behavior in other areas represented an obstacle to cooperation, such as the Karine A incident. The Iranian diplomat maintained that President Khatemi was very concerned about this incident, and had asked whether the United States had any information about it. There was no response from Washington on this issue. Mr. Dobbins then relates his experiences at a meeting in Geneva, where an Iranian General said that Iran was willing to contribute to an American-led program to build a new National Afghan Army. Again, there was no response from Washington. The history of relations between the United States and Iran provides good reason for the two nations to hate each other. Twenty-seven years of noncommunication cannot be reversed, but it is time to apply to Iran the policies of detente and containment, communication whenever possible, and confrontation whenever necessary.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA474062
Entities
People
- James F. Dobbins
Organizations
- RAND Corporation