Burkle Conference on Iran: Can Iran Come In From the Cold? Iran and the International Community in the 21st Century

Can Iran Come In From the Cold? Iran and the International Community in the 21st Century - The Burkle Center, UCLA (May 13, 2011)

Kal Raustiala, UCLA - Etel Solingen, UC Irvine
Bruce Jentleson, Duke University - Charles Kupchan, Georgetown University & Council on Foreign Relations - by QH

Dr. Kal Raustiala (UCLA) - Etel Solingen (UCI) - Bruce Jentleson (Duke U.), Charles Kupchan (Georgetown U. & CFR)

Prof. Asli Bali, ULCA - Dr. Abbas Milani, Stanford U. - Karim Sadjadpour, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Ali Alfoneh, American Enterprise Institute- by QH

Prof. Asli Bali, ULCA - Dr. Abbas Milani, Stanford U. - Karim Sadjadpour, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Ali Alfoneh, American Enterprise Institute- by QH

Prof. Asli Bali (UCLA) - Dr. Abbas Milani (Stanford U.), Karim Sadjadpour (CEIP), Ali Alfoneh (AEI)

Deborah Avant, UC Irvine - Dalia Dassa Kaye, RAND Corporation, Jon Alterman, Center for Strategic and International Studies - Mahsa Rouhi, Harvard University - by QH

Deborah Avant, UC Irvine - Dalia Dassa Kaye, RAND Corporation, Jon Alterman, Center for Strategic and International Studies - Mahsa Rouhi, Harvard University - by QH

Deborah Avant (UCI) - Dalia Dassa Kaye (RAND Corp.) - Jon Alterman (CSIS) - Mahsa Rouhi (Harvard U.)
Mike Shuster, NPR - Trita Parsi, National Iranian American Council - Paul Pillar, Georgetown University, Gen. Wesley K. Clark, UCLA Burkle Center, Reuel Gerecht, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies - by QH

Mike Shuster, NPR - Trita Parsi, National Iranian American Council - Paul Pillar, Georgetown University, Gen. Wesley K. Clark, UCLA Burkle Center, Reuel Gerecht, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies - by QH

Mike Shuster (NPR) - Trita Parsi (NIAC) - Paul Pillar (Georgetown U.) - Gen. Wesley K. Clark, (UCLA Burkle Center) - Reuel Gerecht (FDD)

The Burkle Center for International Relations
Can Iran Come In From the Cold? Iran and the International Community in the 21st Century

Video

Intro & Panel I

Iranian State View

Iranian Opposition View

Dalia Dassa Kaye (RAND)

Jon Alterman (CSIS)

Ali Alfoneh (AEI)

K. Sadjadpour (CEIP)

T. Parsi (NIAC)

Excerpts of Panel IV: The US and Iran

The Consequences of War with Iran

Editor's Note
Should the U.S. Negotiate Directly with Iran? The recent WikiLeaks has revealed that US has had direct contacts with Iran. However, according to the Guardian, British Diplomats advised US on how to engage Iran. Containment has been the US policy towards Iran in the past 30 years because of lack of understanding about realities in the Mideast. Furthermore, the US has been concerned only with protecting Israel's security interest. Therefore, Iran's decision not to negotiate with the U.S in the short-term is logical and prudent as long as a firm security guarantee is not offered. Meanwhile, there is fear, hate and ignorance on both sides. Thirty year after the signing of the Algiers Accord, Iran is still holding Americans in Tehran. The US has responded in a similar fashion and Iranian nationals have been held in Iraq and Lebanon. Furthermore, there has been several cases of kidnapping or defections of Iranians. Therefore, one can infer that both sides prefer to resort to hostage taking instead of resolving issues through dialogue. Meanwhile, the GCC Arab states have been armed to the teeth and beyond. A war in the region seems eminent. Peace with Iran is possible, but it must be brokered by Britian who truly understands Iran and other countries in the region. The British promise in 1917 created Israel and most Arab states gained their independence from Britain. One could argue that the British created the Arab-Israeli conflict and are in a better position to solve it. It's noteworthy to mention that the UK's role was never discussed in this conference.

Professor Pillar warned against a war with Iran towards the end of the lecture. He mentioned a simulation conducted by Kenneth Pollack of the Brooking Institute.