article_snippet.sent: (CNN)If I had to describe the U.S.-Iranian relationship in one word it would be "overmatched.
article_snippet.sent: Iran has no problem reconciling Iran bad and contradictory behavior while we twist we into knots over our tough choices, all the while convincing we that America's policy on the nuclear issue is on the right track.
article_snippet.sent: Iran isn't 10 feet tall in this region, but by making the nuclear issue the be-all and end-all that is supposed to reduce Iran's power, the U.S. is only making Tehran taller.
article_snippet.sent: the U.S.-Iranian relationship is not symmetrical.
article_snippet.sent: the U.S.-Iranian relationship's not as if we both are doing terrible things and are looking for a fair and equitable compromise to stop our respective bad behaviors.
article_snippet.sent: Iran is about to try a U.S. citizen and Washington Post reporter and we have made a judgment that even while we protest, we will keep the nuclear issue separated not just from this case but from Iran's serial abuse of human rights, including  the behavior of Iran Shia militias in Iraq.
article_snippet.sent: I can only hope there is a carefully orchestrated behind-the-scenes plan to have Iran release Jason Rezaian.
article_snippet.sent: If not, we're legitimizing a bad regime and compromising U.S. values and interests  in the process by not ensuring that all Americans being held by Iran come out as part of the nuclear deal.
article_snippet.sent: Sadly, the administration is sending signals that cutting a deal on the nuclear issue takes precedence over the administration priorities.
article_snippet.sent: The Russians, too, realize that the nuclear issue gives The Russians cover to sell sophisticated missile defense systems and soon to export even more to gain influence and hard currency.
article_snippet.sent: Iran has a much easier time managing contradictions.
article_snippet.sent: It clearly makes sense to try to use diplomacy as a way to constrain Iran's nuclear program.
article_snippet.sent: First, we won't end Teheran's nuclear weapons pretensions, and two, we are and will be enabling Teheran rise in the region because of this nuclear diplomacy, not constraining Teheran.  
article_snippet.sent: As the Russians have made clear in the Russians recent S-300 deal, the nuclear negotiations are only making Iran a more acceptable business partner.
article_snippet.sent: And the real fruits of this nuclear diplomacy haven't even begun yet.
article_snippet.sent: Sanctions relief will make the mullahs more secure and give the mullahs the resources to buck up, not tamp down, the mullahs regional aspirations.
article_snippet.sent: A nuclear deal will avert a crisis over the nuclear issue for now.
article_snippet.sent: But unless it really does change Iran's behavior, we've only bought we a bigger one down the road.