The shift in Iran's public stance on working within a framework to manage differences with the United Nations and the West seems like a step in the right direction, but caution is warranted based on the history of Iran's inconsistent words and actions, according to Amb. David Smith, Senior Fellow at Potomac Institute and its Cyber Center Director.

Smith co-wrote the opinion piece with Bijan R. Kian, former member of the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, a former member of the White House Business Council and a former senior fellow for Global Public Policy at the United States Naval Postgraduate School. Woolsey is a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and chairs the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

The authors point toward a history of tough sanctions that may have resulted in short term reasonable behavior from Iran's past presidents but in reality continued down the path of their stated goal of a nuclear weapons program.

Listing example after example of historical examples of lack of good faith and continuing to walk away from necessary compliance, the authors recommend several steps that Iran must take to show they are serious and will work with the U.N. and others.

No matter what a person -- or a country's leader -- says, the actions will speak louder on intent, as portrayed in a Persian fable the authors use to reinforce their concerns.

Read more: http://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/326221-rouhanis-rooster-tail#ixzz2gkfOJs50