-- and salehi got their phd s in the united states. they were fluent in english. this made the relationship much, much easier to bring up hard issues, that isn't the case today, especially since iran, after the termination of the agreement, ron basically refused to have direct discussions between the united states and iran. they've all been from intermediaries and that is not the way to get things done. >> especially not in urgent times and present times where there is a real threat of violence around the world. secretary, thanks for the hard work you put in back then and i hope it is not for not. there is a possibility, slim, but there is a possibility we can get into this direct relationship with iran one day and calm things down. ernest moniz is former energy secretary during the obama administration and cochair and ceo of the nuclear threat initiative.