[fennecfoxen]

Iran also assassinates its critics abroad, or kidnaps them for show trials (France, Germany, Italy and Austria have withdrawn from the Europe-Iran Business Forum over one of these cases). Iran funds Houthi rebels in Yemen to harass the Saudis and attack oil tankers in the Gulf with limpet mines; there was that rocket attack on the US embassy in Iraq... They're also making a big show about issuing INTERPOL warrants agains Donald Trump (futile, of course, but hardly a peace-seeking gesture.)

[Ericson2314]

Have you missed the multiple recent occasions where the US green-lit Moussad assassinating Iranians?

We live in an Anocratic[1] world. You have to judge Iran in that context.

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anocracy

[CameronNemo]

If you bring up Yemen and Saudi Arabia to make Iran look bad without mentioning the atrocities occurring in Yemen with the support of Saudi Arabia and the USA, I cannot take the rest of your comment seriously.

[fennecfoxen]

We are in a thread asserting that it's "worth noting that this is entirely the U.S. not wanting peace."

I remind you to "Have curious conversation; don't cross-examine. Please don't fulminate. Please don't sneer, including at the rest of the community. Please respond to the strongest plausible interpretation of what someone says, not a weaker one that's easier to criticize. Assume good faith."

[CameronNemo]

When you omit relevant facts, your arguments are weaker.

[AsyncAwait]

> We are in a thread asserting that it's "worth noting that this is entirely the U.S. not wanting peace."

In relation to the sanctions that were imposed as part of the U.S. pulling out of the nuclear deal despite Iran complying. But of course you left that part out.

[yyyk]

Weirdly, I tend to blame regimes shouting 'death to America' for bad relations with the US.

Remember that the nuclear deal only dealt with nuclear matters* , all the other regime behaviours (hostage taking, supporting terrorists, missile development, etc.) remained. Stable relations between US and Iran are impossible without the regime changing its ways, the regime has no reason to change so long as the deal exists, ergo there won't be stable relations.

* Even the nuclear terms expire in about a decade, leaving Iran free to do whatever. There used to be a similar deal with North Korea, and we saw how that ended up.

[potatoz2]

I tend to look at actions, and the US (in particular the current administration) bears a large part of the blame. The Iranian government is despicable, but so is the one in Saudi Arabia, yet the US has no problem supporting them. The North Korean government is much worse, but the US negotiates with them. Historically, the US has had no qualms associating with authoritarian countries. There's no intrinsic "reason" for the poor relationship, except realpolitik balance of power.

[inamiyar]

Maybe the answer here shouldn't be reconcile with Iran, but stop supporting Saudi Arabia... (or so, didn't really think this one through)

[yyyk]

SA and NK are vile, but they are not revisionist powers like Iran. It's not a surprise the Iranian regime's attempts to expand its hold across the region would lead to opposition.

[AsyncAwait]

> Iran also assassinates its critics abroad, or kidnaps them for show trials

Just like the KSA does, who are apparently fine with the U.S. It's almost as if it's not really about that.