The revolution is over
Changes in Iran make a nuclear deal more likely—not this month, perhaps, but eventually
Plenty still separates Iran and, on the other side, the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (known as the P5+1). Much of the focus is on the mechanics of a deal (see article). The two sides cannot agree on how many centrifuges Iran should be able to use to enrich uranium, how long an agreement should last, or how fast to lift sanctions.
The gap would be easier to close if Iran and America trusted each other. One reason why the relationship is so poisonous is that popular Western views of Iran are out of date to the point of caricature. A better understanding of the country would help the talks reach a comprehensive settlement—or, at least, avoid a catastrophic collapse.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline "The revolution is over"
From the November 1st 2014 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Leaders
Why South Africans are fed up after 30 years of democracy
After a bright start the ANC has proved incapable of governing for the whole country
How disinformation works—and how to counter it
More co-ordination is needed, and better access to data
America’s reckless borrowing is a danger to its economy—and the world’s
Without good luck or a painful adjustment, the only way out will be to let inflation rip