Last week, Rocky Cole suggested that U.S. involvement in developing Iranian nuclear programs would ensure that Iran did not develop nuclear weapons and possibly create an economic partnership that would begin to heal grievances between the two nations.

This idea is overly simplistic.

Although the idea of overseeing the development of Iran’s nuclear program is theoretically good, there are two obvious problems that would plague a partnership of this kind.

First, the history of the U.S. and Iranian relations runs much deeper than America’s unwanted moniker of Great Satan.

One of the most important interactions between these countries took place in 1953. The U.S. and Great Britain carried out a coup that removed Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq largely to protect British Petroleum’s oil interest in Iran.

The product of this coup was an autocratic, pro-American government that was overthrown in 1979 and replaced with one embittered toward the U.S.

Because of this history, it seems unlikely that Iran would embrace U.S. supervision without reservations.

“It is easy to see now why many Iranians continue to resent this intervention by America in their internal affairs,” said former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright of the coup d’état in 2000. Iranians are unlikely to embrace the nation whose involvement is linked with political interference rather than assistance.

The second problem facing any sort of nuclear program in Iran involves Israel.

To make any sort of stable agreement with Iran, the cooperation of Israel would need to be sought. Israel has been very active in its attempts to halt Iran’s nuclear program and may not be receptive to it even with U.S. oversight.

The historical enmity between the largely Jewish Israel and Muslim states in the Middle East would be difficult to overcome in the case of Iran.

Fears on both sides have hindered meaningful dialogue between Israel and Iran and have accomplished little other than harsh words and saber rattling.

If the United States were able to allay Israel’s fears, then such a partnership between Iran and the United States might be possible but this is much easier said than done.

Given the more conservative leaning of recently elected Israeli officials, it is likely that Israel would be slow to embrace a nuclear-powered Iran as long as radical Muslims govern that nation.

When examining relations with Iran, it is imperative people remember we are not dealing with issues that can be solved simply and immediately.

Iran and its nuclear program are not an isolated entity but rather a strand in a web that encompasses the entire Middle East and policy decisions affecting that region for the past century.

The United States must understand past mistakes when approaching Iran so that it is less likely to repeat them at a time when diplomacy is crucial in the Middle East.

- Stone Irvin is a sophomore from Atlanta majoring in magazines.