Iranian Expatriates Urge Diplomacy

Several Iranian American organizations, spearheaded by the Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) and the National Iranian American Council, have launched a letter to the leaders of Iran, the UK and the US urging these countries to give diplomacy a chance. A broad range of organizations, representing "vastly different views" have signed the letter, because they "feel a connection with both our homes in the West and the finest core values of the societies in which we are living, and with the country of Iran and its cultural traditions."

The letter states that in order to prevent military confrontation, "the way forward must be through serious and genuine dialogue. The rhetoric of mutual demonization, reckless threats and brinksmanship must be left out of that dialogue. Negotiations must be based on the recognition of the legitimate concerns of all parties for physical security, economic security (including energy security) and national sovereignty."

According to the letter: "We urge the leaders of the U.S., the U.K. and Iran to set aside all pre-conditions and resume direct and open negotiations on all issues of dispute, to bring about a lowering of tensions, to create an opening for meaningful progress toward understanding, and to envision a Middle East in which all its residents can coexist and together address the common problems of violence, poverty, illness and environmental degradation."