Before we get too far into some of the subjects that might be discussed, here are some fast facts in the General Assembly itself.

 

Just the facts. The General Assembly is one of the main bodies of the United Nations. All of the U.N. 193 members are represented in the General Assembly. It’s the organization’s main policy making group, but the General Assembly’s decisions are not legally binding. The Assembly’s regular annual session begins on the 3rd Tuesday in September.

 

The civil war in Syria is likely to come up. In speeches to the General Assembly, the country gave an initial list of its chemical weapons last week. It is part of the deal proposed by the U.S. and Russia. There is also speculation about whether American and Iranian leaders might meet this week. Those two nations have a tense history. In 1979, Iranian revolutionary stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran. That’s the capital of Iran. They held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. In 1984, the U.S. government declared that Iran was a state sponsor of terrorism. In recent years, Iran’s nuclear program has caused controversy. The U.S. and other countries believe Iran is trying to make nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Iran has a new president Hasan Rouhani. He was elected this year, and he appears to be reaching out to the U.S..

 

A tough high-stakes called this week for Barack Obama at the U.N.. Should he take a bold gamble and try and meet with the new president of a state that is pretty much against everything the U.S. stands for—Iran. After decades of animosity, American, the great * to Iran, and Iran, part of the U.S.’s old axis of evil, that may be a thaw afoot.

 

As if to set that new tone, a very public invitation to meet came from Iran`s president on twitter. Hassan Rouhani said Sunday, he was ready for dialogue without preconditions. While no meeting has been set, the White House is clear it may be time to talk, if Iran is serious about giving up the desire that the U.S. says it has to make a nuclear bomb. Since he took office, Obama said, he would welcome diplomacy with Iran.

 

“We will extend the hand, if you`re willing to unclench your fist. ”

 

But there are many, including U.S. ally Israel that question how sincere Iran`s diplomatic overture is. And remind Washington of how just one year ago with the U.N. General Assembly, Iran`s last President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, railed against the U.S. and Israel. 

 

There`s been very limited diplomacy between Washington and Tehran since the U.S. embassy hostage crisis in 1979. But sanctions haven`t yet forced Iran to drop its nuclear program and the clock is ticking. Is Iran cracking under international pressure or playing for time -- that will be tough to answer even if Obama`s bold enough to meet this man. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, New York.