South Asia Center Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al Jazeera America that it may be time to send American diplomats back to Iran:
It’s an idea that has been considered several times but never implemented for fear of looking soft or facing rejection: sending U.S. diplomats back to Iran.
In a report, an Iranian-American organization is suggesting the time has come to ask Iran to allow U.S. diplomats to return for the first time since the 1981 hostage crisis. Under the recommendation, Americans would staff a U.S. interests section in Tehran, a step short of restoring formal diplomatic relations. And senior administration officials have indicated that the issue could be brought to the table — but only if a comprehensive nuclear deal is reached first.