Negotiation is a natural practice in people's lives, in buying and selling, in resolving conflicts of interest between individuals, states, or institutions, in family decisions, in professional relationships, etc. Negotiation is not always about resolving conflicts; sometimes the goal of negotiation is to achieve cooperation, partnerships, and alliances, and perhaps the latter word is associated with the world of politics.

What is the concept of successful negotiation? Is it reaching an agreement, or is it one position defeating another, or achieving the interests of one or both parties to the negotiation?

In the book 'Getting to Yes' by authors Fisher, Ury, and Patton, the authors propose a method based on the following principles:

1/ Separate the people from the problem, 2/ Focus on interests, not positions, 3/ Generate options for mutual gain, 4/ Use objective criteria.

Can these proposed principles be applied in negotiations in every field, including the political arena? Friends sit at the negotiation table and talk as if they were enemies, and enemies sit and talk as if they were friends. Does the first meeting fail because it focuses on positions, and the second succeed because it focuses on interests? Is the second meeting what happens in political negotiations? Do political negotiations always end with gains for both sides? Is the concept of success in political negotiations the same for both or all parties? Is success reaching an agreement that stops the conflict, or a sustainable agreement that achieves common interests and builds mutual trust? Does a memorandum of understanding necessarily lead to a final agreement?

The referenced book raises other questions related to the criterion of fairness, how to deal with people if they are the problem, when logic dictates not to negotiate, whether the choice of negotiation venue affects success or failure, and how to negotiate with a powerful party.

Questions address negotiation in various fields and circumstances: professional, social, family, and commercial, including negotiation in times of war for the sake of peace. The questions also touch on a controversial topic: negotiating with terrorists. The authors present their views on the questions included in the book, consistent with the book's goal of negotiating agreement without surrender. The book includes real-life examples that open the door for intellectual negotiation between the authors and readers. These examples did not include negotiations related to the war between America and Iran, but readers can apply the principles presented in the book to evaluate the results of those negotiations: are they successful, are they clear, are they ambiguous?

Successful negotiations in any field require wise people.