On Thursday, May 26, 2005, the World Trade Organization agreed to allow Iran to open talks to join the body that governs international commerce. The United States, who has repeatedly blocked Iran's entrance into the WTO, has not objected. The decision to allow WTO accession comes one day after Iranian nuclear negotiators agreed to extend the freeze on uranium enrichment by three month.

The American Iranian Council welcomes these positives steps and views them as symbols of its ongoing efforts to foster cooperation and partnership between the United States and Iran. Since its inception in 1997, the Council has been urging all parties to consider similar compromises. As such, we urge the United States and Iran to address additional issues of mutual concern, within the timeframe permitted by this compromise. While these steps are crucial to reaching a permanent solution on Iran's use of civil nuclear technology, the spirit of cooperation should be expanded beyond a nuclear compromise.

The temporary respite presented by this compromise should be not seen as a permanent solution, but rather as a symbol of the power of mutual compromise. Consequently, the compromise presents Iran, Europe, and the United States with sufficient time to begin a process of outlining a detailed plan. For Iran to arrive at a permanent solution it will need to expand the current debate beyond issues of nuclear enrichment, to include issues of human rights and support for terrorism. Moreover, one can contend that a nuclear Iran will never be acceptable to the United States unless it reexamines its posture on regional stability and cooperation, namely its policy towards Israel. On the other hand, Europe and the United States must use the time allotted to develop a comprehensive plan, outlining a benchmarked roadmap by which Iran can proceed with nuclear development, but refrain from enrichment activities until outstanding issues are adequately resolved.

The American Iranian Council fully supports the spirit of cooperation evident in this week's events and believes that both sides should proceed toward mutual compromise.

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This speech by Congressman Bob Ney (R-Ohio) was given in June 2001 at an AIC Congressional Roundtable. Inaugurated in July 2000, the Congressional Roundtables were held in Washington, DC and attended by members of Congress, diplomats, policy and legal experts, academics, and journalists. Their goal was to facilitate interaction and exchange of ideas on subjects and issues that are of mutual concern and interest to the United States and Iran.

When it comes to Iran, that's a different ballgame. They have a freely elected president and a parliament, but we don't talk with them. So, I think we have a skewed foreign policy at best. Other countries also tell us that we can't communicate with Iran. I've lived twice overseas, I've been to over 60 countries, and I believe this is a small world and we have to communicate and reach out to many people.

I believe we, as the government of the United States, have to stand up for human rights. We have to make sure that our own house is in order here on human rights, but also make sure that we carry the message around the planet that we want to stand up for decency and people's rights. However, I'm a member of the United States government. I serve this country and no other.

So, therefore, if another country does not like Iran, it doesn't mean that we don't talk to Iran. I'm very tired of hearing Iran doesn't get along with this country or that country. We know that. We don't particularly get along with Iran. But I don't want to hear from other countries dictating our policy of who we deal with. We must base our relationship with Iran on what we, the United States, think of Iran, not on how Iran gets along with another country.

My argument is, if other countries have problems with Iran, or if Iran doesn't treat minorities in the right way, the way to change that behavior is to communicate with Iran.