No Handshake, But a Phone Call

So President Obama and President Rouhani have spoken by telephone, the first direct contacts between a US and Iranian leader since 1979.

That's a good sign, but 20 years after the Oslo Accords it is worth remembering that talking to each other, while a precondition for peace, is not in itself peace. Iran's new leader is a lot more personable than his execrable predecessor, but there are still huge gaps between the two sides.

Obama signed off with Khoda Hafez. Let's hope so.