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Podcasts Take Two
Why is Iran opening up to nuclear talks with US?
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Sep 25, 2013
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Why is Iran opening up to nuclear talks with US?
After years of fierce resistance, is Iran really ready to come clean about its nuclear program? And if so, why now?
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addresses the U.N. General Assembly on September 24, 2013 in New York City. Over 120 prime ministers, presidents and monarchs are gathering this week for the annual meeting at the temporary General Assembly Hall at the U.N. headquarters while the General Assembly Building is closed for renovations.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addresses the U.N. General Assembly on September 24, 2013 in New York City. Over 120 prime ministers, presidents and monarchs are gathering this week for the annual meeting at the temporary General Assembly Hall at the U.N. headquarters while the General Assembly Building is closed for renovations.
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Pool/Getty Images
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After years of fierce resistance, is Iran really ready to come clean about its nuclear program? And if so, why now?

Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled to meet with his Iranian counterpart in New York tomorrow. It's being called the highest level talks between the two nations since the hostage crisis in 1979.

This follows news that President Obama and the newly elected Iranian president Hassan Rouhani had been exchanging letters. Yesterday, Mr. Obama seemed to reach out to Iran in a speech to the UN general assembly.

After years of fierce resistance, is Iran really ready to come clean about its nuclear program? And if so, why now? For some help understanding this, we turn to Carol Williams of the LA Times, a veteran foreign correspondent and Middle East watcher.