Ambassador Suddarth says there is no evidence Iran is promoting terrorism, but it keeps its ties to terrorist groups. Ambassador Suddarth says better relations will depend on President Mohammed Khatami exercising more power with the support of a younger, more open generation of Iranians. The president is a critical figure, says William Miller, a former U-S ambassador to Ukraine who also served in Iran for five years. Ambassador Miller says the more Americans and Iranians interact the better. He believes majorities in both countries want a settlement of outstanding issues so that they can get on with normal activities.
Disputes are easier to solve between friends than enemies.
Iran is not fundamentalist. Iran is a very complicated society which has a varied approach to many of the aspects of life. Its religion is led by people of great learning and distinction. Ambassador Miller and others say much depends on which voices prevail in Iran - those that are open to the world or those that are not.