After more than 27 years of no direct contact with Iran, the United States Ambassador to Iraq met his Iranian counterpart there on Monday the 28th of May to discuss ways to improve the security situation in Iraq.  Iraqs Prime Minister, Mr. Nouri Al-Maliki met with the delegation but did not attend the four hour long meeting, after which there was a press conference given by the American ambassador.  Although it is yet unclear whether there were any truly positive results from this meeting, the significant fact was that the several decades' long taboo had been broken and may hopefully lead to more serious negotiations at higher levels to resolve the longstanding issues between Iran and the United States.  Dialogue is better than no dialogue, and both parties agreed that they want a stable, democratic, and united Iraq. All sides should take steps that are for the interest of the entire Iraqi people who are suffering the most from the mayhem in their country.  Without security and stability this experiment in regime change will not be successful and may lead to disastrous consequences not just for Iraq but for other countries in the Middle East.  That is why it is in the interest of all Iraq's neighboring countries to help it rid itself of insurgents, armed sectarian militias and Al-Qadea infiltrators, in order for the government to continue its political progress and become more unified.

On the nuclear issue however, tensions are rising.  Iran has again defied U.N. demands to suspend its enrichment programs according to a report issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency.  The IAEA report also indicates that the Islamic Republic has significantly accelerated its enrichment capability and has not provided a range of verification information to the agency.  The US administration is therefore going to push for a third Security Council resolution with tougher sanctions that would hurt enough to hopefully change Iran's stance.  As we go to print his issue, there are scheduled talks this week between the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Ali Larijani, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, and although there isn't much optimism about a breakthrough in this meeting, this is a good opportunity for Iran to accept a temporary suspension in its enrichment program so that further negotiations can be restarted. 

While the United Sates is pursuing international diplomacy to resolve the crisis with Iran, it is also authorizing covert operations to destabilize the Iranian government through a CIA plan that includes a campaign of propaganda, disinformation, and manipulation of Iran's currency and international financial transactions according to findings by ABC News.  It is also supporting and encouraging a Sunni Iranian militant group, Jundullah, which operates from bases on the rugged Iran-Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, and has conducted deadly raids inside Iran.  This type of proxy war can only lead to Iranian retaliation and a further escalation of the conflict.