Novick Praises Obama's Principled Position on Iran

Portland - Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Steve Novick today praised Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama for his thoughtful and constructive statements on United States relations with Iran.

"Senator Obama shares my deep concern about the attempts to produce nuclear weapons by a nation whose President has called for wiping Israel off the map. But he correctly recognizes that reckless saber-rattling is precluding constructive dialogue and diplomacy with Iran," said Novick. "Instead, he makes it clear that if Iran is willing to give up its nuclear program, and cooperate in fighting terrorism and ending the violence in Iraq, we will welcome Iran into the family of nations."

As the New York Times reported today:

Making clear that he planned to talk to Iran without preconditions, Mr. Obama emphasized further that "changes in behavior" by Iran could possibly be rewarded with membership in the World Trade Organization, other economic benefits and security guarantees.

"We are willing to talk about certain assurances in the context of them showing some good faith," he said in the interview at his campaign headquarters here. "I think it is important for us to send a signal that we are not hellbent on regime change, just for the sake of regime change, but expect changes in behavior. And there are both carrots and there are sticks available to them for those changes in behavior."

"That's exactly the right tone for a prospective President to take. If you only rattle sabers, you back them into a corner, and make it less likely that they will negotiate," said Novick. "In fact, brinkmanship and hawkish rhetoric strengthens the current regime, because the market reacts by raising the price of oil, helping finance their nuclear program."

Novick has previously criticized Senator Gordon Smith for voting for a resolution describing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. Novick agreed with Virginia Senator Jim Webb that the resolution - which was opposed by Oregon's Senator Wyden but, unfortunately, supported by Senator Hillary Clinton - could be interpreted by the Bush administration as authorization for military action against Iran.

Novick said that he believes the Iranian people would welcome a friendly relationship with the United States. "Oregon's own Nicholas Kristof, as a New York Times columnist, has pointed out over the years that most Iranians are not anti-Western or anti-American; that, in fact, there is less animosity toward the U.S. in Iran than in most of the rest of the region."

Steve Novick is a supporter of John Edwards for President, based on Edwards' "detailed and consistent progressive platform." But added he is "committed to giving credit where credit is due."