West Has Until June to End Iran Crisis

International crises are supposed to last days. Perhaps, like the Cuban missile crisis, they can stretch to weeks or, like the prelude to war in 1914, even months. But the Iranian nuclear crisis, which began with the revelation of secret nuclear sites in 2002, has now lasted a full decade. Although some might consider 10 years without war to be a success, it would be foolish to assume we can endure another 10. It is now more important than ever that we take advantage of fortuitous diplomatic circumstances and seek a deal with Iran, one which both addresses our basic security concerns and allows Iran to come away with dignity. The window for nuclear diplomacy between Iran and the west has been open since Barack Obama's re-election. But it will start inching shut as we approach the Iranian presidential elections in June. The same election-season policy paralysis that grips Washington every four years also afflicts Tehran. Iran's political system has been especially fragmented during president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's second term, and factional competition will intensify. Since negotiations can't be held before January, that leaves a short period – no more than five months – in which to hammer out an agreement.