U.S. policy toward Iran's nuclear program under Bush and Obama

¶ … United States policy towards the Iran's nuclear program has been complicated by a variety of issues. Some of these issues include Iran's alleged sponsorship of terrorism, regional stability, hostility towards U.S. allies, and the complication of the peace process between Arabs and Israelis in the Middle East. The United States' approach in policy toward Iran's nuclear program has changed very little from the Bush administration to the current Obama Administration. A writer for time magazine cleverly stated, in regard to the United States' approach to Iran's nuclear program that Obama taking over the presidency "is more like taking over the controls of a train than getting behind the wheel of a car" (T. Karon). This analogy is appropriate because Obama's administration is following the foundation laid by the Bush Administration.

Both the Obama and Bush administrations recognized the potential global and regional danger that could surfaces as a result of Iran's nuclear exploits. In order to alleviate the tensions surrounding the diplomatic conflict in which the U.S. clearly opposes Iran's experimentation with the enrichment of uranium both the Bush administration and the Obama administration have been willing to engage Iran in high-level talks in order to reach an agreement. According to Kenneth Katzman, in 2008 the Bush administration "directly engaged Iran on specific regional priority and humanitarian issues" (Katzman 40). This was a step in what many speculated was an attempt by the administration to establish contact with Iran in order to later facilitate talks regarding The Iranian Republic's nuclear program. This move was also significant considering that these would be the first serious talks between the two nations since the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Even before 2006 the U.S. under the George W. Bush administration has been willing to engage in multilateral and even bilateral talks with Iran with the condition that Iran suspends its process of uranium enrichment. According to Katzman some have speculated that the United States' willingness to engage in talks with Iran was an attempt to trigger support for international sanctions that could then force Iran to engage in serious talks regarding the suspension of its nuclear program.

Considering the varied issues that divide these two nations and prevent them from reaching accords are several, many have speculated that the best way for a resolution is a bargain or package deal that addresses several of the pressing issues simultaneously. The Obama administration's approach towards Iran has been very similar to that of the Bush administration. It appears that the Obama administration is also willing to engage in direct talks using high-level government agents on both sides focusing on a diplomatic approach. Under the Bush administration the United States maintained its willingness to exercise military action against Iran in order to end its nuclear program.