Academy award-winning “best picture,” Argo, has resurrected American interest in this dark diplomatic episode. Two hostages from the crisis, retired Ambassadors Bruce Laingen and John Limbert, called on the United States and Iran to learn from the lessons of the 1979 crisis rather than be held hostage to the ever-escalating cycle of confrontation that has defined U.S.-Iranian relations for decades. On the eve of the P5+1 talks in which diplomats from the United States and Iran will meet in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the Ambassadors call for broadening the scope of negotiations with Iran beyond the nuclear issue to advance a diplomatic solution.
Former Hostages Call for Diplomacy to Prevent War & Nuclear Armed Iran
While Ben Affleck’s Oscar-nominated film Argo has refocused attention on the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, two former hostages argue that the lessons of the crisis are very relevant to modern U.S. policy toward Iran. As the U.S. restarts talks with Iran on February 26, former U.S. hostages Amb. Bruce Laingen and Amb. John Limbert are calling for sustained and comprehensive diplomacy to prevent war and an Iranian nuclear weapon.
Obama Addresses Key National Security Issues in State of the Union
“Lessening the dangers posed by nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons usable materials is a vital national security and fiscal priority,” said Kingston Reif, director of non-proliferation programs at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. “There is an emerging bipartisan and military consensus that a significantly smaller stockpile would meet our security needs. In this time of economic uncertainty, further reductions with Russia could create significant cost savings that would free funding for higher priority security programs.”
Optimistic in Almaty? How to Move the Iran Impasse Forward
Published in the Lobe Log on February 8, 2013. Article summary below, click here to read full article. By Laicie Heeley and Usha Sahay After months of deliberation, Iranian negotiators and representatives of the 6-world power P5+1 negotiating team have agreed to meet on February 26 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Hopeful watchers may read some symbolism […]
Military and Policy Experts Call on P5+1 and Iran to Set a Productive Agenda for Upcoming Meetings
“Bold leadership from the White House is needed,” said Lt. General (ret. USA) Robert Gard PhD, Chairman of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and member of the Council on Foreign Relations. “After decades of stagnation, hopping from one crisis to another with Iran, the negotiators are in a position to develop a proposal that will ensure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon and put its nuclear program under stricter controls by the International Atomic Energy Agency.”
