MENU
SECTIONS
OTHER
CLASSIFIEDS
CONTACT US / FAQ
Advertisement
Rouhani
1
MORE

Bad timing

AP

Bad timing

U.S. House is doing its best to torpedo a valid foreign policy objective — establishing dialogue with Iran.

The U.S. House is doing its best to torpedo a valid foreign policy objective — establishing dialogue with Iran — by passing legislation that seeks to damage the country’s economy further just as a new, more-reasonable president, Hassan Rouhani, is taking over.

Mr. Rouhani looks a lot better than his predecessor, the radical Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. As the most liberal of six candidates, Mr. Rouhani won Iran’s presidential election in June.

He says he is ready to resume talks with the United States and the rest of the world about Iran’s nuclear program. Iran claims the program is peaceful, although it appears to be working to develop a nuclear weapons capacity.

Advertisement

The United States has imposed damaging economic sanctions against Iran, intended to press it to drop its nuclear effort. Last week, the House voted to impose even stricter sanctions against Iran’s oil industry and banking sector. Those sanctions would punish not only Iran, but also countries that seek to do business with it.

Iranians resent America’s economic sanctions against them. Tehran remains unlikely to give up its nuclear program completely. Congress should get out of the way of America’s effort to establish a fresh dialogue with Iran and its just-inaugurated president.

First Published August 5, 2013, 10:39 p.m.

Advertisement
RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS  
Join the Conversation
We value your comments and civil discourse. Click here to review our Commenting Guidelines.
Must Read
Partners
Advertisement
Rouhani  (AP)
AP
Advertisement
LATEST opinion
Advertisement
Pittsburgh skyline silhouette
TOP
Email a Story