TEHRAN -- The sincerity of the sides, especially the U.S. side, is essential for progress in the Iran-U.S. talks, Professor Hamid Molana of American University in Washington, D.C. told the Mehr News Agency on Friday.

On the recent talks between Iran and the United States, he said that in the first step, a consensus must be reached on the Iraq security issue and the need for the U.S. to give Iran a security guarantee.

An acknowledgment by U.S. officials that the Islamic Republic is stable and a commitment to attempt to alter regional countries’ stances toward Iran would be tangible concessions Iran could acquire in the negotiations, Molana observed.

He went on to say that a cold war between Iran and the United States could arise.