Iranian politicians with a wish to negotiate with the USA have been at considerable risk since the inception of the Islamic Republic. In a 23 March article in the English edition of Al-Sharq al-Awsat Amir Taheri reviews the history of unpleasant consequences that have befallen almost every Iranian who has attempted this since 1979. As he observes, there is Iran the nation state, which is capable of engaging in productive diplomacy, and Iran the Khomeinist cause, which is not. Read the article here.