WASHINGTON (VR) – “I’m not a big fan of the Islamic Republic. But, also it’s probably well-known to most of you my position on whether we should be talking to each other… and I’ve been in favor of it for a very long time.” Those are the words of a former hostage in the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran during the 1979 crisis, John Limbert.
He was speaking at a recent event held by The Atlantic Council entitled, “Re-establishing a U.S. Diplomatic Presence in Iran”, which was organized to promote the release of a report under the same name and published by the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans.
Barbara Slavin (Atlantic Council), Ramin Asgard (former US Foreign Service Officer), Morad Ghorban (Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans), and John Limbert (former Dep. Ass. Sec. of State for Iran and former US hostage in Tehran).
The author of the report, Ramin Asgard, a former U.S. Foreign Service Officer, explained why he believes the U.S. should begin to consider sending diplomats back to the country.
He said that “the loss of a U.S. diplomatic presence has directly and profoundly reduced America’s ability to understand and successfully impact events in Iran, and to a great extent in the broader Middle East.”
Asgard said that re-establishing a diplomatic presence, in some form, in Iran would enhance U.S. national security through diplomatic engagement and better American citizen services for Americans living in the country, and those with family and friends there. He also said that it would help to bolster American public policy positions and aid in political and economic reporting about conditions in the country. Asgard argued that the loss of a diplomatic presence has given other interest groups, such as media and think tanks, too much influence over U.S. government policy.
He said, “there’s nothing wrong with media and think tanks… interest groups, allies, intermediaries, and experts and pundits weighing in on foreign policy but when they get involved in forming the creation of foreign policy and execution of foreign policy… things can get chaotic.”
Following Asgard’s presentation, John Limbert described why he disagrees with Asgard’s assessment of the situation.
He said, “things are very sensitive. There’s a very delicate balance going on in Iranian politics. And I would hesitate to put our people into the middle of it because if you do, they become pawns in a very tough contact sport. Our people… could become the focus of domestic battles. It happened in 1979.”
John Limbert, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iran and former US hostage in Tehran.
Assistant Secretary Limbert said that he would feel more comfortable sending diplomats back to the country if he heard figures, such as the Supreme Leader and those within the Revolution Guard, and the government say, “I’m not gonna let that happen again”. Limbert argued that in the next few years ahead there are going to be ups and downs between the U.S. and Iran, and for that reason the United States should be absolutely certain that its personnel will not be put in harm’s way by returning to the country.
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