As of late, the hard-line relations between America and Iran seem to be easing. For the first time since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the American president had a phone conversation with the president of Iran. On the surface this seems like steps by Iran to enter real negotiations about their nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has called President Hassan Rouhani's efforts a "smiley campaign" with "conciliatory words." What do you foresee as the trajectory of our talks with Iran, and do you see them being productive?

Eric Lob

President Hassan Rouhani and his team are serious about subjecting Iran's nuclear program to heightened restrictions, safeguards and inspections in exchange for sanctions relief and the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. Based on preliminary discussions and official statements in New York and Geneva, the trajectory of talks between Iran and the P5+1 is heading in a constructive and positive direction. In response to these talks, Israel has taken a hard-line stance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that Iranian enrichment at any level represents an existential threat to his country. Other Israeli officials are concerned about Iranian-American rapprochement and about Israel losing its geostrategic advantage as the Middle East's sole nuclear power. Ironically, Israeli resistance toward diplomacy raises the prospects of a nuclear-armed Iran and a regional, nuclear arms race-the very outcomes Israel seeks to avoid.

Eric Lob is a postdoctoral research fellow at Brandeis University's Crown Center for Middle East Studies.

Sarah Kent (GRAD)

If the history of these two nations is deeply examined, it becomes clear that the tensions between the U.S. and Iran have existed well before the 1979 hostage crisis; rather it was simply the breaking point. For example, the United States and Great Britain were instrumental in the overthrow of former Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, who wanted to nationalize oil, in 1953. The talks between President Obama and President Hassan Rouhani are encouraging, but I believe it will take a long time for mutual trust to be regained because of the past and the potential backlash within the two nations. These early talks do not specifically symbolize much in the way of moving forward. They do, however, represent an opening of minds in each country to the idea of reigniting relations. For these reasons, I believe that these talks are hopeful but not enough to assume that the relationship between the United States and Iran will improve.

Sarah Kent is pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in History.

Arielle Gordon '16

Really, we're asking the wrong questions. Likely, talks between President Obama and President Rouhani will not come to any sort of definitively diplomatic fruition. Idealists can be as hopeful as they would like, but anti-U.S. sentiment is deeply embedded within the very ideological foundations of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and while Iran's nuclear program is hardly the existential threat that many portray it to be, it is certainly a symbol of sovereignty that the ideological factions in Iran, with the most jurisdiction over Iranian policies, will be hard pressed to relinquish. Yet, the concrete outcome of talks is hardly a reason to dissuade the U.S. from engaging in conversation. With two "reformist" political leaders at the helm, it is imperative that we seize the opportunity to create a space for dialogue with the IRI that has been closed off for more than three decades. The goal of dialogue would not be to achieve a concrete outcome, but to set a precedent for conversation that only a year ago would have seemed impossible. While this is hardly a moment for blind optimism, we cannot afford to allow uncompromising cynicism prevent the possibility of a badly needed shift in U.S.-Iranian relations.

Arielle Gordon '16 is majoring in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, serves as the editor of the Middle East section for the Brandeis International Journal, and is a staff writer for the Justice.

Alex Thomson '15

From the latest news reports, it appears that the clandestine talks between the Iranian and American governments are making significant progress. All indications point to an imminent deal that could be announced shortly that would require greater international oversight and regulation of Iran's nuclear stockpile, unannounced visits to Iranian nuclear facilities by UN inspectors and limits on the quantity and grade of uranium. I find Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States to be both refreshing and hopeful after the past eight years of hostile relations with former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Despite the productivity of the talks, I am still cautious of their final outcome and the ultimate deal. While I do believe that Rouhani is intent on bettering relations with the West to ease sanctions on the Iranian economy, he must also match deeds with words and demonstrate that Iran is serious about ceding its nuclear program.

Alex Thomson '15 is the former president of the Brandeis Israel Public Affairs Committee.