Actually, we don't know that Israel, Pakistan, India, China or other nuclear club nations won't use their nuclear weapons either, but we do know that if they have realistic hope for the future, they wouldn't want to cause a nuclear holocaust. Nuclear blackmail is the domain of those who have no other future.

Iran is a large country with various natural resources and it is subject to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Although Iranian President Ahmedinajab occasionally makes controversial statements, he is highly intelligent and fervently religious. As such, there is substantive common ground, due to the fact that his religion, the Shia sect of Islam, has significant links to the Judeo-Christian heritage.

There are liberalizing trends in urban areas and there is significant diversity of political outlook in Iran. Iran is not pursuing a war footing and even Mr. Ahmedinajab has been trying to reach out to the US and others. There is no reason to provoke a war with Iran, as it could pull many other countries into violence, as Iran is the leading Shia country. Negotiation could to be successful.

North Korea, on the other hand, is more isolated, although it has close relations with China. The government does not sanction or allow religious activity and has a legacy of all types of immoral behavior. Nonetheless, the North Korean government appears to be eager to reach negotiated settlements with the US. As long as there are safeguards, we should keep the dialogue open. Having discussions is a positive.
China is an intermediary. China wants things to work

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Learn more about this author, Robert C. Sage.
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