Ambassador William Miller TV interview on U.S. - Iran relations

Ambassador William Miller, SFCG Senior Advisor, was recently interviewed by Atlantic Television News, a Danish Television News production company that produces news from client stations around the world.  This particular show was seen on the station INN which is seen heavily in Middle Eastern countries.  “Special Interviews” is a 30 minute broadcast where politicians, columnists, and others discuss current events.  The topic of the interview is US-Iran relations and US foreign policy towards Iran. 

During the course of the interview, Amb. Miller talked about the U.S. hostage crisis (1979-81)  as the psychological barrier to improved relations between the U.S. and Iran.   He explained the role that Track 2 diplomacy can play between the U.S. and Iran, and he spoke about his work in this regard.  Because we do not have direct diplomatic relations with Iran, we do not understand each other and we have no direct means of engagement.   We use sanctions but we do not use diplomacy.  We have to learn how to talk with each other.   Even at the UN in New York and Geneva, U.S. and Iranian representatives do not engage with each other.   Bill also discussed the background and history of the Iranian nuclear development program and provided the perspectives of both sides.