Is It Time for the US to Sit Down and Talk to Iran?

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Iran is defying the UN Security Council and insisting on its right to develop nuclear technology. The US and Europe are threatening to ask for "targeted sanctions." There's concern that if the impasse continues, the only choices will be to accept an Iranian nuclear weapon or stop it with military action. Former Secretary of State Madelyn Albright, Republican Senator Richard Lugar and Germany's foreign minister are among those urging the US to establish bi-lateral talks with Iran. Is there another choice? Is Iran sending signals that it wants bi-lateral talks. Should the Bush Administration agree? Could that be a way to avoid confrontation? We get answers from three Middle East experts. (An extended version of this discussion originally aired earlier today on To the Point.)Making News: Angelides and Westly Face Off in Gubernatorial DebateState Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Westly want the Democratic nomination for Governor, and last night they faced off at LA's Museum of Tolerance in the first debate of this year's primary campaign. But it won't be on local TV until Saturday afternoon (KABC, Channel 7 at 3:30pm), and only one other debate is scheduled. Are the voters finding out what they need to know? Sherry Bebitch-Jeffe is political analyst for KNBC-TV and senior scholar at USC.
Iran is defying the UN Security Council and insisting on its right to develop nuclear technology. The US and Europe are threatening to ask for "targeted sanctions." There's concern that if the impasse continues, the only choices will be to accept an Iranian nuclear weapon or stop it with military action. Former Secretary of State Madelyn Albright, Republican Senator Richard Lugar and Germany's foreign minister are among those urging the US to establish bi-lateral talks with Iran. Is there another choice? Is Iran sending signals that it wants bi-lateral talks. Should the Bush Administration agree? Could that be a way to avoid confrontation? We get answers from three Middle East experts. (An extended version of this discussion originally aired earlier today on To the Point.)
  • Making News: Angelides and Westly Face Off in Gubernatorial Debate
    State Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Westly want the Democratic nomination for Governor, and last night they faced off at LA's Museum of Tolerance in the first debate of this year's primary campaign. But it won't be on local TV until Saturday afternoon (KABC, Channel 7 at 3:30pm), and only one other debate is scheduled. Are the voters finding out what they need to know? Sherry Bebitch-Jeffe is political analyst for KNBC-TV and senior scholar at USC.

Angelides' gubernatorial campaign

Westly's gubernatorial campaign

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on Iran nuclear safeguards

United Nations considers action on Iran's nuclear program

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton