During college I went on an overseas study program to Iran. I went back a few years later and lived in Iran from 1972-1978 and hold the country dear.  As a trained and experienced mediator, I humbly make the following suggestions:

Please accept the invitation to go on Iranian TV.

Know that Persians are deeply philosophical, love poetry as we love entertainment TV, and value hospitality above all.  Their religious practice is radically democratic; it creates hierarchy based on acclamation rather than top down appointments and encourages everyone to interpret the Koran for themselves– a solid foundation for democracy. They value civic and civil discourse. Iran modeled effective governance of multi-ethnic populations for much of its 2500-year history. They justifiably do not take kindly to patronizing dictates about what they should or should not do.  President Ahmadinajad has repeatedly stated the desire to be addressed with respect as a partner.

I know from mediating that apologies for mistakes and honoring other people’s strengths go a long way to creating a conducive atmosphere for moving forward.

First apologize for our overthrow of the democratically elected government of President Mossadegh in 1953. We interfered in a sovereign nation for selfish reasons and that is morally and ethically unconscionable. Ahmadinajad is right that we owe the people of Iran this apology, and allowing him to be right about one thing will disarm him, and allow him the face to be wrong about something, too.

Acknowledge the richness of Iran’s cultural heritage:

Call on Iran to once again become a model of governance that peacefully accommodates many cultures.  The last time that Iran used a military to create an empire was about 2,400 years ago and that empire was renown for its accommodation and integration of many diverse cultures.  Let’s all learn from the Achaemenid model of governance.

Call on Iran to once again model a high standard of living. The City of Isfahan was once called “half the world,” for the lovely gardens, waterways, splendid architecture and quality of life available to its citizens.

Call on Iran to resume their mantle of excellence in the sciences. The Persian Ibn Sina (aka Avicenna, 981-1037), only one of many persian philosopher/scientists is known as the father of modern medicine. Iran can become a center for health and wellness in the Middle East.

Call on Iran to resume their mantle of excellence in mathematics.  Iran was once the center of math studies and Persian mathematician, Muhammad ibn M?s? al-Khw?rizm? is considered by many to be the “father of algebra.”  Notation for fractions and other innovations in mathematics also came from Iran. Mathematics rule in the digital economy and Iran can once again become a center for innovation.

Call on Iran to resume their mantle of excellence in sustainable resource development.  Over one thousand years ago Persians developed water management systems that supplied reliable water to human settlements in arid climates (qanats). Persians developed air-conditioned buildings and ice storage.  Once again Iran can export innovations in sustainable energy.  We all will benefit.
Call on Iran to resume excellence in architecture for a new millennium.  Persian architects have been structurally inventive, giving the world superior domes, vaults and corbeled arches. The domes of the Friday Mosque in Isfahan were built one thousand years ago and stand today in earthquake country because of the extraordinarily accurate computations of the architects and the skill of their builders.

Invite Iran to join with us to bring excellence and innovation to all our peaceful endeavors and to set aside the fear that drives support for violent solutions to conflict.

We can both change from position-based, adversarial negotiating to mutually respectful, issue-based problem solving.

Mr. President, please peruse at least a few of the following books so that you can appreciate the people, the history and complexity of the Persian culture:

Persian Mirrors; the Elusive Face of Iran by Elaine Sciolino (2005)

Mirrors of the Unseen; Journeys in Iran by Jason Elliot (2007)

Iran: Elements of Destiny by Roloff Beny (1978)…this is an awesome picture book that will give you the flavor of the country.