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Former Obama Official Says US Should Put Cards on Table

Colin Kahl, a former Obama Defense Department official, tells Al-Monitor's Laura Rozen why the Iran nuclear talks in Moscow scheduled for next week should not be make-or-break for the West. He explains why Iran doesn’t take Israel’s threat of force seriously, and why it may be time for the US to give a little in order to resolve broader concerns.
Iran's newly disclosed nuclear fuel facility near Qom, Iran, is pictured in this GeoEye satellite photograph released September 27, 2009. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday that diplomacy and sanctions rather than military action are the way to persuade Iran to change its nuclear program as divisions emerge in the Iranian leadership. REUTERS/GeoEye/IHS Janes Analysis/Handout (IRAN SCI TECH POLITICS IMAGES OF THE DAY ENERGY) MANDATORY CREDIT FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING

Colin Kahl, a former top Obama Defense Department Middle East official tells Al-Monitor why the Iran nuclear talks in Moscow, scheduled for next week, should not be make-or-break for the P5+1. He explains why Iran doesn’t take Israel’s threat of force seriously, and why it may be time for the US to show Iran more of its cards in order to resolve broader concerns in an interview with Laura Rozen.  

Al-Monitor:  What’s your sense of how to play out likely scenarios spinning from the upcoming nuclear talks in Moscow and how to give space for the diplomatic process if a 20% agreement is not reached? 

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