Decoding Iran

On Thursday night, a somewhat unusual incident occurred at the regional conference in Sharm el-Sheikh. At the conference, which was convened to discuss stabilization efforts in Iraq, much of the international focus has centered on whether or not Condoleezza Rice would speak with her Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki. Reportedly, they had exchanged “pleasantries” earlier that evening and Rice was planning on speaking with him in more detail at the end of a diplomatic dinner. But Mottaki, claiming that he had been offended by the revealing cut of the dress of an entertainer, slipped out a back door and failed to meet with Rice.

The Wall Street Journal, of course, touted this incident as a clear sign that the Iranians aren’t willing to talk, and that we shouldn’t even try to engage with them. But the actual picture is probably a lot more nuanced.

Continued at Foreign Policy Watch.