Differing opinions on Iran talks from APN, BBI

Americans for Peace Now is commending the Obama administration for agreeing to open a dialogue with Iran, while B’nai B’rith International says the talks are cause for "great caution."

"We applaud President Obama for embracing this opportunity, rather than rejecting it out-of-hand, as some would have him do," said Americans for Peace Now president and CEO  "Skepticism about Iran’s seriousness is warranted, and this is precisely why it is so important that President Obama and the international community are seizing this opportunity to test the credibility of Iran’s proposal and to assess Iran’s willingness to resolve the various issues of contention, including the future of its nuclear program, through dialogue."

Meanwhile, BBI president Moishe Smith and executive vice president Daniel Mariaschin said the United States should be wary. "Iran has a long history of delaying and stalling tactics while continuing to flout international laws," they said in a statement. "B’nai B’rith is calling on the United States to be vigilant and pragmatic about Iran’s true motives."

First, APN:

APN Commends Obama Administration for Positive Response to Iranian Proposal

APN today applauded the Obama Administration’s decision to respond positively to the recent Iranian package of proposals for opening a dialogue with the international community.

Commenting on the decision, APN President and CEO Debra DeLee stated, "We applaud President Obama for embracing this opportunity, rather than rejecting it out-of-hand, as some would have him do.   Skepticism about Iran’s seriousness is warranted, and this is precisely why it is so important that President Obama and the international community are seizing this opportunity to test the credibility of Iran’s proposal and to assess Iran’s willingness to resolve the various issues of contention, including the future of its nuclear program, through dialogue."

She continued, "Last week, when many were focused on demanding new sanctions and short-fuse deadlines for ending US engagement efforts, we spoke out suggesting that this was the wrong course.  We said then, even before the Iranian proposal had been made public, that the US should be pursuing a policy of smart engagement, characterized by realistic goals and expectations and a readiness to adapt as the engagement process proceeds. We argued that this was the responsible, effective approach to address the very real threats posed by Iran’s nuclear program, its regional meddling, and its other destabilizing behavior.  We urged the Obama Administration to continue to look for all available channels for engagement with Iranian officials and the Iranian people.   We are gratified that at this first opportunity, the Obama Administration is doing precisely that."

APN has long advocated serious, sustained, direct US engagement with Iran to address the full range of issues on the US-Iran agenda, including: the urgent need to curb any Iranian effort to develop nuclear weapons; the critical goal of ending Iranian support for extremist organizations in the Middle East; serious and longstanding US concerns about freedoms and human rights in Iran – concerns that are even more pressing today; and the US interest in Iranian cooperation and coordination in efforts to stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan.  
 
Given the urgency of the Iranian nuclear threat, as well as the other interests laid out above, we believe that today, even with the current turmoil on the Iranian domestic political scene, the correct policy for the Obama Administration is to continue efforts to engage Iran on the full range of issues on the agenda.  By their nature, these issues do not permit the US to stand aside and put engagement efforts on hold until the Iranian domestic situation has clarified.

And BBI:

U.S. MUST BE WARY IN TALKS WITH IRAN

(Washington, D.C., Sept. 14, 2009)—The announcement that the United States will participate in international, multi-party talks with Iran is cause for great caution. B’nai B’rith International President Moishe Smith and Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:

Iran is trying to have it both ways. On the one hand, Tehran continues its nuclear enrichment program on the path to nuclear weapons. But on the other, it says it will take part in “comprehensive talks” that could include discussion of the nuclear issue.

These will be the first formal talks between the United States and Iran in 30 years. The meetings will also include the other four permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (Britain, Russia, China, and France) plus Germany.

Iran has a long history of delaying and stalling tactics while continuing to flout international laws. B’nai B’rith is calling on the United States to be vigilant and pragmatic about Iran’s true motives. 

Despite the agreement to take part in the talks, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – the newly re-elected Iranian leader – has pledged to keep enriching uranium. The United States and the rest of the talk participants must guard against Tehran’s overt duplicity. B’nai B’rith shares the assessment of those who say the prospect of success is “extremely low.”