Engaging Iran is productive, report says

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Washington can have a greater influence on Iranian human rights and political development through a policy of engagement, an analysis suggests.

A report by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington advocates a policy of "productive engagement" on a variety of mutual areas of interest.

While both governments have exchanged harsh comments toward one another, interests of concern to both parties, particularly the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, suggest a policy of encouraging Tehran to align more closely to core world powers may be more beneficial than division, the report says.

The next U.S. president should not, however, pursue a policy of engagement with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, given that such a move may increase his chances of retaining his office in the June presidential contest in Iran.

Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the premier Iranian authority, should be approached while "secret" negotiations on the periphery move to establish confidence between both sides.

In order to prevent spoilers from further undermining tensions between the two countries, notably in the nuclear arena, successful engagement may do more to change Iranian behavior than continued belligerence, the report concludes.