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Washington DC - Ambassador John Limbert was one of the 52 US diplomats held hostage at the US Embassy in Iran in 1980. 28 years later he has written a guide for US diplomats on negotiating with the Iranians. “Negotiating with the Islamic Republic of Iran: Raising the Chances for Success – 15 Points to Remember” draws on Limbert’s experience as a political officer at the US Embassy to guide the next generation of US diplomats in the nuances of negotiation.

The event, well attended by prominent historians, former and current government officials, soon turned into a talk about the validity of past, present and potential negotiations between the two countries.

Panelists included Mohebat Ahdiyyih, the senior Iran analyst at the National Open Source Center; Ellen Laipson, the president and CEO of the Stimson Center; Michael Rubin, the resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute; and Steven Riskin, senior program officer for the USIP grants and Fellowships program.

Limbert’s report cited the mistakes of past political encounters with Iran. The report, at times cheeky, will eventually become a book-length study of Iran’s negotiation style. It reads like a “how to,” and provides advice to the United States about effectively bridging the growing diplomatic gap between the U.S. and Iran.

Panelists agreed that Limbert’s report comes at an important moment in the history of U.S.-Iran relations. Since the abrupt end of diplomatic relations in 1980, both countries have frequently flirted with the idea of reestablishing ties, but without ever settling on a “how” or “what.”

Limbert, a Harvard educated Iran expert, offered many anecdotes from his experience as a hostage during the 1979 hostage crisis.

His report addresses many nuances in Iranian foreign policy, including the psychological tendencies of Iranian officials. Limbert notes that Iranians despise weakness and value strength, and that Iranians still see Iran as a hegemonic power.

At the event, Limbert emphasized three main points: that negotiations with Iran, as hard as they may seem, are worth pursuing; that Iranians remember, in vivid, unrelenting detail, the injustices brought upon their country; and that the Iranians deserve credit for their intelligence. These judgments were welcomed by the USIP as a solid foundation for future U.S.-Iran diplomatic talks.

During the question and answer portion of the event, Limbert was challenged by a young woman identifying herself as the daughter of an attorney who represented ousted Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq. She questioned Limbert’s assertion that mutual forgiveness was an appropriate response to the traumas both countries have endured at the hands of the other. Limbert was referring specifically to the CIA engineered coup of Mosaddeq and the Iran Hostage Crisis.

To read the full text of John Limbert’s report, please click here.