Iran Must Normalize Ties with U.S. and Recognize Israel to Avert War, Experts Say

TL;DR Iran must normalize relations with the United States and accept Israel’s legitimacy to avoid another war, experts warn, citing unresolved uranium enrichment as the key obstacle.

## Context Political scientist Mohsen Milani and former White House official Elisa Ewers discussed the prospects of Iran‑U.S. negotiations on a recent program hosted by Steve Clemons. They argued that lasting peace and prosperity for Iran depend on two steps: normalizing diplomatic ties with the United States and acknowledging Israel as a legitimate actor in the region. The discussion took place amid renewed diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal and ongoing regional tensions.

## Key Facts Milani stressed that Iran must normalize relations with the United States and recognize Israel’s legitimacy to achieve peace and prosperity. He and Ewers warned that failure to resolve the uranium enrichment issue—or settling for a vague interim deal—could lead to another war within two to three years. The pair identified uranium enrichment as a major stumbling block in the talks during their discussion with Clemons, noting that enrichment levels remain a central point of contention.

## What It Means Analysts say the dual condition—political recognition and technical compromise—creates a narrow pathway for de‑escalation. If Iran agrees to diplomatic normalization but stalls on enrichment, the risk of a breakdown remains high; conversely, progress on enrichment without political shifts may not satisfy U.S. or regional allies. Policymakers in Washington, Tel Aviv, and European capitals are likely to monitor both the diplomatic signals from Tehran and the technical reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency. The next test will be whether upcoming negotiations produce a concrete enrichment framework paired with clear steps toward mutual recognition.