Dear Mr. DOUSTI:
Thank you for contacting my office regarding U.S. policy towards Iran. I appreciate hearing from you.
Relations with Iran are very difficult. In 2002, Iranian dissidents and inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed that Iran has been secretly conducting a nuclear research program. Although Iran claims that this program is directed solely toward peaceful energy production, the fact that this program was conducted in secret and that Iran is a known supporter of certain terrorist organizations has caused many to question Iran's true intentions. In Iraq, evidence has surfaced which indicates that elements in Iran may be supplying Shiite extremists with sophisticated weapons, including explosively formed projectiles (EFPs), which have been used to attack and kill U.S. military personnel. In addition, since taking power in 2005, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has continuously made inflammatory statements about our ally Israel, including his assertion that, "Israel should be wiped off the map."
Terrorism, military nuclear capabilities, Iraq, and the Israeli-Palestinian dilemma, are all major issues which are intrinsically linked with Iran. Although the U.S. has not maintained diplomatic relations with Iran since 1980, I believe none of these issues can be addressed without appreciation for Iran's role in each and a willingness to resolve our differences through dialogue. I agree with former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage that, "we ought to be willing to have enough confidence in our ability as diplomats to go eye to eye with people, even though we disagree in the strongest possible way, and come away without losing anything."
Dialogue, even with our bitterest rivals, can garner positive results. At the height of the Cold War, President Ronald Reagan engaged Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in dialogue just weeks after branding the U.S.S.R. the "Evil Empire." If we were willing to negotiate with the Soviets, I believe we should also be willing to have open discussions with the Iranians. For that reason, I have repeatedly met with Iran's three most recent ambassadors to the United Nations, and continually pressed the administration to engage Tehran in bilateral negotiations.
On September 26, 2007, I voted for legislation sponsored by Senators Kyl and Lieberman, which encourages the U.S. State Department to place the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps on its list of foreign terrorist organizations, as well as to expedite the enforcement of U.N. sanctions mandated three U.N. Security Council Resolutions. In no way did this vote constitute an authorization for the use of military force.
Although tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high, I believe that the opportunity remains for diplomacy to help resolve our differences. I will continue to urge the U.S. and Iranian governments to ease these tensions through dialogue.
Thank you again for writing. The concerns of my constituents are of great importance to me, and I rely on you and other Pennsylvanians to inform me of your views. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office or visit my website at http://specter.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
Arlen Specter
Thank you for contacting my office regarding U.S. policy towards Iran. I appreciate hearing from you.
Relations with Iran are very difficult. In 2002, Iranian dissidents and inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed that Iran has been secretly conducting a nuclear research program. Although Iran claims that this program is directed solely toward peaceful energy production, the fact that this program was conducted in secret and that Iran is a known supporter of certain terrorist organizations has caused many to question Iran's true intentions. In Iraq, evidence has surfaced which indicates that elements in Iran may be supplying Shiite extremists with sophisticated weapons, including explosively formed projectiles (EFPs), which have been used to attack and kill U.S. military personnel. In addition, since taking power in 2005, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has continuously made inflammatory statements about our ally Israel, including his assertion that, "Israel should be wiped off the map."
Terrorism, military nuclear capabilities, Iraq, and the Israeli-Palestinian dilemma, are all major issues which are intrinsically linked with Iran. Although the U.S. has not maintained diplomatic relations with Iran since 1980, I believe none of these issues can be addressed without appreciation for Iran's role in each and a willingness to resolve our differences through dialogue. I agree with former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage that, "we ought to be willing to have enough confidence in our ability as diplomats to go eye to eye with people, even though we disagree in the strongest possible way, and come away without losing anything."
Dialogue, even with our bitterest rivals, can garner positive results. At the height of the Cold War, President Ronald Reagan engaged Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in dialogue just weeks after branding the U.S.S.R. the "Evil Empire." If we were willing to negotiate with the Soviets, I believe we should also be willing to have open discussions with the Iranians. For that reason, I have repeatedly met with Iran's three most recent ambassadors to the United Nations, and continually pressed the administration to engage Tehran in bilateral negotiations.
On September 26, 2007, I voted for legislation sponsored by Senators Kyl and Lieberman, which encourages the U.S. State Department to place the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps on its list of foreign terrorist organizations, as well as to expedite the enforcement of U.N. sanctions mandated three U.N. Security Council Resolutions. In no way did this vote constitute an authorization for the use of military force.
Although tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high, I believe that the opportunity remains for diplomacy to help resolve our differences. I will continue to urge the U.S. and Iranian governments to ease these tensions through dialogue.
Thank you again for writing. The concerns of my constituents are of great importance to me, and I rely on you and other Pennsylvanians to inform me of your views. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office or visit my website at http://specter.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
Arlen Specter
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