After dismissing calls to talk to its adversaries as a sign of "appeasement," the United States has reversed course and sat down with Iran to discuss Tehran's nuclear ambitions. As anticipated, Saturday's meeting yielded no breakthrough, but it did send a message to Iran: Windows of opportunity are closing and the time to decide between cooperation and confrontation is here.
In 2002, a group opposed to the Tehran government provided evidence of a clandestine Iranian nuclear program. Iran insists that its nuclear intentions are peaceful and efforts to establish the fuel cycle — and acquire the enrichment capabilities — are part of the right enshrined in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
Nonetheless, inconsistencies between Iran's explanations and the evidence remain and attempts to clarify the nature of that program have been unsuccessful.