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ASIA TIMESNovember 25, 2014Gareth Porter's incisive article ("Nuclear compromise fuels hopes of deal," October 29, 2014) needs further elaboration. There are many in US foreign policy circles, so-called "Iran experts," and those who cover Iran in the media who parrot the view that the major obstacle to a deal continues to be technical issues and transparency. They tend to get lost in the technical weeds of negotiations. The real obstacle has been, and continues to be, the general lack of trust on both sides built over the many years of estrangement.

For example, there are vociferous voices in the US Congress, the media, discredited neo-cons and the Israel-can-do-no-wrong crowd who rant and rave against any agreement unless it is one that totally fits their agenda. They claim that Iran cannot be trusted to keep any agreement, despite all assurances of full transparency from Iran. And, to muddy the water further, to name a few, Iran's support for the government of Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon, previous nuclear work and work on missile technology, are cited as issues that must also be dealt with before any agreement. In Iran, the Supreme Leader's position in all negotiations has been to tell the negotiating team "I will support you, but know the US agenda is one that wants to get rid of all of us. Regime change is what they are after."

The Iranians do not believe the US can deliver sanctions relief. And they cite continued efforts by the US to use cyber warfare, promote instability by inciting disgruntled tribes such as the Baluchies and terrorist gangs like the Jundullah. Further, they cite the US$400 million presidential finding of the Bush/Cheney Administration signed in 2008 to undermine the Iranian government as some of the things that continue today to bring about that regime change.

It is this mistrust that hangs over the negotiations that both sides are trying to overcome. President Obama and President Rouhani of Iran have determined that a deal on the nuclear issue is in the best national security interest of both countries. And, they have both acted accordingly to reach an agreement. After 35 years of enmity, will these leaders have the perseverance and strength to overcome the aforementioned obstacles and, to take this moment, to trust and start an engagement that benefits the national security interests of both countries? If they fail, the region and the world will pay a heavy price.Fariborz S Fatemi
VA, USA (Nov 25, '14)#yiv2549616903 #yiv2549616903AOLMsgPart_1_fa8d34fe-0b17-4d78-be82-5fb68aa94b21 td{color:black;}