Mennonite Weekly Review

Dear President Bush: Thirteen U.S. Christian leaders are traveling to Iran Feb. 17-25 to talk with religious and political leaders about how to improve understanding between our two nations.

As people of faith, our natural conversation partners in Iran are Christian and Muslim leaders. But we have also scheduled a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to talk about the tension in U.S.-Iranian relations.

I wish you were the one meeting with President Ahmadinejad. Not because I fear meeting Iran’s president. To the contrary, when I met him last fall in New York I found him to be bright and engaging. Like you, Ahmadinejad is a religious man. I believe you would enjoy one another’s company. Your conversation could signal a positive change in a relationship severed more than 25 years ago.

I know you have concerns about Iran’s words and actions. That’s precisely why it is so important for you to talk with Iran. Middle East experts from both political parties are urging you to do so.

The recent bipartisan Baker-Hamilton report called for direct U.S. talks with Iran. Prominent members of your own party are encouraging your administration to engage Iran.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., wrote recently in The Washington Quarterly that the United States should be willing to begin bilateral negotiations with Iran. “A good starting point for U.S.-Iranian relations would be to treat them as equals for the purpose of negations,” wrote Specter, who has a long history of holding conversations with adversaries.

Similarly, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., have called for direct U.S. talks with Iran.

In the House of Representatives, Rep. Wayne Gilchrist, R-Md., recently sent you a letter signed by 18 other members of Congress urging your administration to open up direct diplomatic channels with Tehran.

“There are seldom occasions in history where a great country should fear dialogue with a potential adversary,” said the letter, signed by 12 Republicans and seven Democrats.

Your administration has signaled a willingness to talk. But only if Iran first agrees to stop enriching uranium.