Low Expectations as U.S. and Iran to Meet

July 23, 2007 — -- Until this year, the United States had not held formal bilateral talks with Iran since 1979, when a revolution overthrew the Shah of Iran.

Now, the United States is preparing for the second meeting between the two nations to discuss an issue of strategic importance for both countries: Iraq.

The State Department confirmed today that Iraq's government will host a meeting in Baghdad Tuesday between the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker and Ambassador Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, his Iranian counterpart.

The United States accuses Iran of providing support for Shiite militias, who have stoked sectarian violence throughout Iraq, and also of providing insurgents with powerful EFP, or explosively formed projectile, explosives, which have been used to target U.S. and coalition troops.

Iran has denied the charges.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters today that Crocker would once again ask Iran to cease its destabilizing role in Iraq.

"The decision was taken that it is worthwhile to underscore, again, in person, directly with the Iranians, on this narrow set of issues related to Iraq, that they should change their behavior if they truly want to see a more positive outcome in Iraq," McCormack said, adding, "What we'll see, in terms of the outcomes of the meeting, will be up to the Iranians."

Expectations that Iran will actually take its hands out of Iraq are low. McCormack said that Iran has not changed its position since the May 28 meeting. "After the first meeting, we haven't seen really any appreciable change in their behavior, certainly not for the positive."

Some analysts argue that, while engagement with Iran is a step in the right direction, the meeting is unlikely to produce immediate results in the two areas of concern cited by the United States.

"We can move forward slowly and painfully," said Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "This won't change the relationship, fundamentally, but it may advance American interests.

"The Iranian government sees complicating Americans' lives in Iraq as the most important thing they can do to secure their own hold on power [at home]," Alterman added.