Dr. Babak Rahimi, National Iranian American Council (NIAC) | The recent approval of the security pact by the Iraqi Cabinet, which would require Washington to withdraw its forces by the end of 2011, marks a new development in U.S.-Iran relations. While Iran has fiercely opposed the agreement since negotiations began earlier this year, the election of Barack Obama has provided a new incentive for Tehran to modify its antagonistic policy toward the security agreement and demonstrate that it can help Washington by not becoming a major stumbling block to U.S. efforts to establish military ties with Baghdad.