Two good items on current US-Iran relations: an interview with Trita Parsi on WBEZ's Worldview program, and an article by Stephen Zunes. Parsi's book looks informative, and Zunes's work is always solid.
Both pieces correctly highlight the role of US and Israeli geopolitical concerns regarding Tehran's nuclear program. And it is this desire for sustained regional hegemony that threatens to move the Iranian situation in a potentially catastrophic direction.
The American people have the easy power to bring Congress to heel. This would have three positive effects: it would encourage Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to give it a rest; it would send a message to the White House that diplomacy is the preferred option (as indicated by many members of the US and Israeli military and intelligence communities); and it would help avert the disaster Netanyahu and Congress seem to prefer.
http://www.wbez.org/worldview/2012-06-12/segment/middle-east-expert-analyzes-obamas-moves-iran-100021
http://www.fpif.org/articles/congress_pushes_for_war_with_iran
