The main focus was the status of US-Iran relations following the election of Mohammed Khatami to the Iranian presidency. Khatami has called for expansion of cultural and sports exchanges between Iran and the US to break the "wall of mistrust" between the two countries. Iran and the US, despite differences, have common interests. The US should test Iran by modifying its containment policy rather than trying to economically emasculate and politically isolate it. To promote its strategic and economic interests, the US can show and act of statesmanship to promote rapprochement.