What are Iranian diplomats to do if diplomats from the West - and in particular from the United States – mention other issues such as the Iranian regime’s lack of human rights, involvement in regional conflict, or support for terrorism? Are the Iranian diplomats to ignore the Americans, turn away, and give them the silent treatment? Or should they just hide during the negotiations as to ignore these matter altogether because the Supreme Leader has forbidden them to speak about topics not related to the nuclear issue?
When Khatami was president, he obeyed the Supreme Leader and hid in a bathroom in the United Nations to avoid speaking to president Clinton. Perhaps as a result of a lack of dialogue, tensions between Iran and the U.S. intensified in the following years and led to the international sanctions that brought Iran to the negotiating table. Now, after the Rouhani administration has improved Iran's ties with the global community and has overcome some of the challenges that had isolated Iran for years, the Supreme Leader is once again seeking less dialogue. Some people just don’t learn.