Feel the reset!
Iran's most powerful figure told Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit Iran wanted to expand ties with "more independent countries", adding the United States was "not honest" in the fight against terrorism in the region.
"Iranians never trusted the West... That's why Tehran seeks cooperation with more independent countries (like China)," [Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei said.
That's something we can build on to achieve Iran as a responsible regional partner, eh?
Feel the reset!
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to carefully consider the risks of travel to Iran. This replaces the Travel Warning for Iran of August 5, 2015, to reiterate and highlight the risk of arrest and detention of U.S. citizens, particularly dual national Iranian-Americans, in Iran. All U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and carefully consider nonessential travel.
Various elements in Iran remain hostile to the United States. Since the United States and Iran reached a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to address the international community's concerns over Iran's nuclear program on July 14, 2015, Iran has continued to harass, arrest, and detain U.S. citizens, in particular dual nationals.
(As an aside, the OSAC email updates are a great source of information on global events.)
Mission accomplished!
I'm sure that one day when Iran is a nuclear regional power, the State Department talking points will claim one out of three isn't bad, significant success-wise. And with just a few more concessions we'll build that partnership by the end of the fiscal year!
Face it, Iran isn't going to change into a better country because of this deal--just a better armed country.
