I think this is a very smart move, particularly if it's coupled with a strong push for urgent, direct negotiations on the "serious differences" between Iran and the United States (e.g., Iran's nuclear weapons program, its opposition to Arab-Israeli peace, its support of extremist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas). All in all, this is exactly the right tone for President Obama to take with Iran at this point:
You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right -- but it comes with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization. And the measure of that greatness is not the capacity to destroy, it is your demonstrated ability to build and create."The question is, what does the Obama administration do if it exhausts diplomacy and Iran continues on its current path? Let's hope that Iran responds favorably to President Obama's Nowruz message, or this might not be such a happy New Year for either of our nations.
P.S. To all celebrating Nowruz, I join President Obama in wishing, "Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak."
