Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 02/2009

Iran: Is Productive Engagement Possible?

Karim Sadjadpour

October 2008

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Abstract

Iran continues to be a critical national security challenge for the United States, despite decades of effort to change Tehran's behavior by isolating the country politically and economically. A different approach is required. In a new policy brief, Karim Sadjadpour explains that the relevant question is not whether to talk to Iran but how to talk to Iran, and prioritizes U.S. engagement with Iran on six critical issues: Iraq, Afghanistan, nuclear proliferation, the Arab-Israeli conflict, energy, and terrorism.