As Hassan Rouhani, Iran's new president, called on renewed dialogue to deal with the uranium-enrichment program, there are concerns that his approach will not be met by the United States. If this occurs, another important opportunity will have been missed with Iran, increasing the chances of confrontation.
"If you seek a suitable answer, speak to Iran through the language of respect, not through the language of sanctions," said Rouhani.
The naming of Mohammad Javad Zarif as his foreign minister suggests the new president's intention to break the 34-year stalemate between the Islamic Republic and the U.S. As stated in the memoirs of former U.N. envoy Giandomenico Picco, Zarif, a graduate of the University of Denver in international law and policy, was involved in negotiations to win the release of U.S. hostages held by pro-Iranian gunmen in Lebanon.