Words from the former Finance Minister and Economic Ambassador of Iran.

An article by Dr. Jahangir Amuzegar in the latest issue of Middle East Policy analyzes the elements facing the European Union, the United States, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, regarding Iran's nuclear program. He writes that the positions held by all sides involve immense implications for world peace and security, as well as the political stability of the Persian Gulf region.

His article states that the officially publicized bargaining positions in the current negotiations mask some hidden agenda that no party, and particularly the US, has so far been willing to address for a number of domestic political reasons. Tehran is seeking a guarantee that the U.S. will not push for a regime change, while Washington wants Iran to renounce its hostility towards Israel. The failure of negotiations presently underway between Great Britain, the U.S., Russia, and Tehran would affect Washington's global leadership, the future relevance of the Non-nuclear Proliferation Treaty, and the fate of the Israeli/Palestinian peace process. "In a curious mixture of national pride, anti-colonialism, and standing up to "global arrogance," the Iranian nuclear program has now become a question of national sovereignty, political independence, and even inalienable rights," the author states.

This study is published in the Summer issue of Middle East Policy.

The most frequently cited journal on the Middle East region in the field of international affairs, Middle East Policy has been engaging thoughtful minds for more than 20 years. Since its inception in 1982, the journal has been recognized as a valuable addition to the Washington-based policy discussion. It provides an influential forum for a wide range of views on U.S. interests in the region and the value of the policies that are supposed to promote them. It is published on behalf of the Middle East Policy Council.

Dr. Amuzegar has authored more than 50 articles in leading journals and 7 books on Iran, oil, and economic development. He served as the Government of Iran's Minister of Commerce in 1962-63, the Minister of Finance in 1963, and as Ambassador-at-Large from 1963-1979. He is currently an International economic consultant based in Washington D.C.

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