Ambassador is a former U.S. special representative for Syria engagement and former U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Iraq; from 2013-2018 he was the Philip Solondz Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute. He currently chairs the Wilson Center’s Middle East Program.
Articles & Testimony
The Washington Institute's Philip Solondz Distinguished Visiting Fellow addressed a Senate hearing on the prospects of diplomatic breakthrough with Iran. The following is an excerpt from his prepared remarks; download the PDF to read more, or watch video of the full hearing.
The rapid pace of events since Iranian president Hassan Rouhani took office this past summer has significantly increased the possibility of a successful negotiation on Iran's nuclear program, thereby forestalling either a military strike on Iran or the emergence of a nuclear-armed or nuclear-weapon-capable Iran. Either of these latter eventualities would unleash unknown but likely very serious consequences on an already stressed international situation. The United States thus should vigorously engage, with Iran and with our allies and partners, accepting risks when necessary, to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough that would meet President Obama's criteria of being meaningful, transparent, and verifiable.
The technical outlines of any such agreement have been sketched many times, by the P5+1 in its September 2009 offer to Iran and in studies and essays by many analysts...
