What's Dennis Ross Doing About Iran?

Shortly before he assumed a post in the Obama White House, veteran Middle East hand Dennis Ross co-authored a book on the Middle East titled Myths, Illusions and Peace (reviewed here), with the Washington Institute's David Makovsky (interviewed here).

In the book, the authors spell out how to use Saudi Arabia to put pressure on Europe to bring tougher sanctions to bear on Iran. Specifically, they write that the Saudis have substantial holdings in European banks and energy companies and should "make clear that those who cut all ties to the Iranians would be rewarded" and those that didn't "would fall into disfavor and receive no investments or business." They suggest the Saudis could take a similar approach to the Chinese and Russians.

The authors also advocated opening a secret back-channel to Iran to gage intentions and sketch out the parameters of negotiations.

I wonder, following today's news, if Ross has made any trips to Riyadh lately.

(Dennis Ross while speaking at Emory University by Nrbelex under a CC License.)