Originally the United States had ordained that Iran must give an answer about their nuclear program by this Saturday. However in a press conference with State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, he said that the deadline “is coming soon.” He did not enforce that deadline as Saturday but rather an undisclosed date in the near future.
A few weeks ago, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with the leaders of Iran and told them that there would be repercussions for any failure to come up with an answer by the end of the two-week allotted time frame.
Furthermore, McCormack stated that the United States would not revoke the offer of aid and incentives to Iran for disabling their nuclear program. It is evident that the leaders of our nation are truly striving for an authentically diplomatic solution to this problem. They have threatened Iran thus far and it has produced little to no cooperation. At this point, I think diplomacy might have a shot at providing an amicable solution for these two nations.
What do you think? Is the United States appearing weak and sending the wrong message by giving Iran some extra leeway? Is it important that we maintain a tough exterior or will understanding and diplomacy provide the solution? If anyone has any insight into these questions or any references to United States history, which proves either point, I would be interested to know.
