The relationship between the United States and Iran has now entered treacherous waters, both figuratively and metaphorically. The recent release of contradictory videos from both sides regarding the skirmishes in the Strait of Hormuz has left the media and on-lookers perplexed. The Pentagon originally released a video which showed Iranian fast boats circling Coalition Warship 73. The video contained a heavily accented voice threatening the US Warship, which the Pentagon claimed was coming from one of the five Iranian patrol boats.

The Iranian government would later release a video which depicts a much more routine and standard encounter between the two sides. Shortly after this release, unnamed Pentagon officials claimed that the voice on the original tape could not be directly traced to the Iranian patrol boats, and it could have possibly come from another ship nearby or even from shore. As a result the media has published conflicting reports questioning the authenticity of the videos released by both the US and Iran.

When all is said and done, the unequivocal genuineness of both accounts are not available, but that is irrelevant to its negative effect on US-Iran relations in both the immediate and long-term future. Prior to these reports, the NIE had set an optimistic atmosphere for those who favor increased diplomacy and normalization of relations between the two nations. Unfortunately the naval skirmish has somewhat curbed this enthusiasm, while increasing the legitimacy of warmongers on both sides of the fence.

Given the volatile state of US-Iran relations, the window of opportunity that the NIE has provided for reconciliation should be widened and utilized with due urgency rather than narrowed and disregarded. A strategic imperative now exists for both sides to make time of the essence, and perhaps utilize the 'Big Push" approach that AIC President has outlines in a recent article. The alternative, I am afraid, is a destructive encounter between the two great nations.

Michael Jalileyan

The recent diplomatic trip by President Bush to the Middle East, including the Persian Gulf, Arab states, and Israel, has become a new source of tension for US- Iran relations. The President pursued three inter-related goals during his trip: First, to bolster the Administration's pledge in restarting the Israeli-Palestinian "peace talks;" second, to express the American commitment to the security of Israel and the Persian Gulf Arab states; and third, and most significant of all, to campaign and press for a desired containment policy in the region centered on the perceived Iranian threats and the Islamic Republic's "unconstructive influence." As President Bush put it throughout his trip, "Iran was, is, and will be a dangerous nation!"

Executive Director

The American Iranian Council invites applications for the position of Executive Director. AIC is a non-profit (tax-exempt) and non-partisan educational and research organization dedicated to promoting dialogue and understanding between the United States and Iran. The Council is led by a prestigious Board of Directors and is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey. The Executive Director will serve as the chief executive officer of the Council, with primary responsibility for managing the organization's day-to-day operations, preparing the Council's annual budget and program of activities, leading the organization's fundraising and membership drive, producing and distributing AIC publications, directing and coordinating the work of a small professional staff, and serving as the primary spokesperson for AIC. Reporting to the President, the Executive Director will ensure that the organization is fiscally sound and that its internal and external communications, fundraising, and programs are meeting the needs and interests of its mission...Please send all applications to admin@us-iran.org

Hooshang Amirahmadi

Iran is currently a world-class foreign policy challenge for the West and the US in particular. The country stands before the UN Security Council for its alleged "potential threat to world peace." The Council has already imposed two political-economic sanctions on Iran and intends to continue along that path until the Islamic Republic stops its uranium enrichment programs. Meanwhile, the Bush Administration has been threatening Iran with the use of force if "diplomacy fails," and has successfully convinced many financial institutions to break ties with the country. These multilateral sanctions are in addition to the unilateral economic embargoes that the US has imposed on Iran since the Islamic revolution in 1979. Iran is suspected of pursuing nuclear weaponization, a charge that the Islamic regime has consistently denied. Even though the 2007 National Intelligence Estimate has allayed that suspicion by revealing that Iran "stopped" its alleged weaponization programs in 2003, the more difficult issues of nuclear enrichment and Iran's future intentions remain, making 2008 the most dangerous year in the US-Iran spiral conflict.

In order to promote dialogue and understanding, AIC president Professor Hooshang Amirahmadi proposes the "Big Push" approach. The idea centers on a concerted non-conditional diplomatic effort to prepare for normalized US-Iran relations that begins with a change toward a more respectful tone. The initial steps will also include to effectively convincing the stakeholders in Iran-US relations that their interests will be protected. This will precede the imperative move of simultaneous acknowledgement by both parties that they are prepared and willing to normalize relations once conditions permit them to do so.

Let us begin by sending you our warmest greetings and best wishes for a Happy New Year. At the American Iranian Council we are hoping that 2008 will be a year of peace and prosperity. It will not be an exaggeration to state that much of this will depend on how the US-Iran spiraling conflict is resolved. For example, a grand bargain between Washington and Tehran could ensue in a sea of opportunities for their nations and the global community.
The year 2007 was packed with dreadful news for US-Iran relations but ended with a glimpse of hope for a new beginning in the foreseeable future following the National Intelligence Estimate report this past November. The NIE "judged with high confidence that in fall 2003, Tehran halted its Nuclear weapons program." Before that news was public, a US or Israeli military strike against Iran's uranium enrichment facilities was considered imminent.