Publication

This report provides advice and suggestions for US diplomats and negotiators dealing with their counterparts from Iran. The paper comments on both countries' strained relationship and the related grievances and suspicions, identifies a variety of traits that can be expected from Iran in negotiations and looks at the Iranians' historical self-perception. Furthermore, the author points to the complex governing structures in Iran and the country's feeling of being surrounded by hostile forces. He argues that if Iranians are approached as irrational they are quite likely to behave in that manner.