To the Point

Iran's Nuclear Program: Does Diplomacy Have a Chance?

In Almaty, Kazakhstan this weekend, Iran met with the so-called "PR5+1" — UN Security Council members Russia, China, Britain, France and the US — plus Germany. After talks ended on Saturday, the best US officials could say was there wasn't a "breakthrough," but there wasn't a "breakdown" either.

By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

In Almaty, Kazakhstan this weekend, Iran met with the so-called "PR5+1" — UN Security Council members Russia, China, Britain, France and the US — plus Germany. After talks ended on Saturday, the best US officials could say was there wasn't a "breakthrough," but there wasn't a "breakdown" either. It's the tenth year of the stand-off over Iran's nuclear program, and Israel is threatening attack if Iran gets the capacity to build a nuclear bomb. After President Ahmadinejad is replaced by election ten weeks from now, will Iran be any different? What's the impact of economic sanctions? Can diplomats find an alternative to either the use of force or trying to contain another nation gone nuclear like North Korea?