It may take a few weeks or months before Washington and Tehran begin their meetings to discuss the strained US-Iran relations for more than 30 years.
There are many reasons behind their move which marks a new start in US-Iranian relations.
Among the reasons is that Iran has direct borders with Iraq and Afghanistan - the battlegrounds of the US and the Nato - and that the United States has no other choice except to start a dialogue with Iran, which has become a key player in the region.
Second, the Iranian coast overlooks all US military fleets and bases as well as the important sources of energy in the Arabian Gulf.
Subsequently, Tehran can play a significant and influential role in the global economy through its energy production and its strategic location.
Another important factor is that Iran's vital political and security interests include the Arab-Israeli conflict with its Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian fronts in the past two decades.
Accordingly, Tehran has become directly concerned with the interactions and complications of inter-Arab relations and local conflicts in a number of countries in the region.
The Iranian nuclear dossier still stands as another source of tension in the region, as it added to the already strained relations with the West and to its growing role as a key regional power capable of acquiring nuclear weapons in the future.
However, the growing impact of Iran's role in the past few years was not a result of Iranian policy alone.
The former US administration contributed indirectly to providing the proper opportunities to the Iranian leadership over the past eight years.
Undoubtedly, the Iranian leadership took advantage of these opportunities and utilised them in enhancing its role.
Bush administration helped Iran by getting rid of two vehement foes - Saddam Hussain in Iraq and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Furthermore, the US committed many mistakes as a result of its wrong practices and improper plans in Iraq where the door was left wide open for the Iranians to play the sectarian card in the country.
The disinterest towards the Arab-Israeli conflict and the sidelining of the Palestine cause by the former US administration, represented by former president George W. Bush, have prompted Iran to support both Lebanese and Palestinian resistance groups.
In return, the unlimited American support to Israel and its aggression on the Palestinian and Lebanese people resulted in fostering Iran's relations with Syria, Lebanon and Palestinian resistance factions.
Iran realises that there are many changes after the new US President Barack Obama came to power and his call for adopting a foreign policy that is different to that of his predecessor.
It is well known that the Obama administration may not differ from former US administrations in terms of supreme interests and goals, yet it will be completely different with regard to the approach and means.
Of course, the Obama administration will start from where the Bush administration has left off. It will work to tackle the negative consequences of the former administration's wars and the policy of dividing the world into an axis of evil and an axis of good, as well as the US monopoly over important international resolutions.
The pragmatic US methodology usually discusses the outcome of US policy and learns lessons by accepting facts and working towards changing them later on after revising the means and action plans. This without deviating from long-term goals and interests.
This obviously means that the Obama administration will revise each stage of its strained relations with Iran and other countries and set new plans and means to achieve American goals.
Undoubtedly, it is time for both Washington and Tehran to begin talks because they need each other. First, Washington needs Tehran to provide the appropriate security and political grounds for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, as well as to prevent the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan.
Moreover, the US needs Iran's cooperation in solving Middle Eastern conflicts and finding a settlement for the Arab-Israeli conflict in particular, as well as in providing security for the extraction and export of oil and gas in the Gulf region and its neighbouring countries.
In return, the Iranian leadership is fully aware that the time is ripe to engage in direct talks with Washington because the time element, which was in the interest of Tehran during the Bush administration, will no longer be in its interest, due to the Obama administration's positive approach towards the entire world, especially Moscow.
Iran must understand the game of international relations and it should worry about a possible US-Russian rapprochement that might prompt Moscow and Washington to work actively against Tehran.
And this is the same case with China if a rapprochement is seen between the Asian giant and the US.
Hence, it is necessary for Iran to boost its relations with its Arab neighbours for the sake of the common Arab-Iranian interests and for enhancing its negotiating position with the entire world.Director of Al Hewar Centre in Washington.
