IRAN and the US

The US military presence in Iraq is producing varied responses in surrounding countries. Iran's government is discussing re-establishing diplomatic ties with the US after a 23-year break in relations, an unnamed Iranian diplomat told USA Today in a development that comes as officials from the two countries met secretly in Geneva. "The debate is taking place both in Iran and the US," the newspaper quoted an Iranian diplomat, who asked not to be named, as saying. "We are ready to discuss re-establishing relations on the basis of mutual respect." The newspaper, citing US and Iranian officials, also reported that Iran and the US have held three secret meetings in Geneva this year, with the approval of Iran's powerful Islamic clerics. The US side is being led by Zalmay Khalilzad, the White House's envoy to Afghanistan and Iraq, the paper said. The latest meeting was on 3 May, USA Today reported. A US official said that the discussion topics included Afghanistan and Iraq, and were not intended to establish diplomatic relations or initiate an open-agenda dialogue. The US cut diplomatic ties with Iran after radical students seized its embassy in Tehran in 1979 following the Islamic revolution that toppled the US-backed shah. The Bush administration has shifted its rhetoric on Iran several times since taking office in January 2001. Initially, it sought dialog, but after the 11 September 2001 attacks, US President George Bush branded Iran part of a so-called "axis of evil," along with Iraq and North Korea (Reuters13/5/03). This news came as Iranian President Khatami was visiting Syria and Lebanon to agree on a common policy regarding the US.

Ronald Hilton - 5/14/03