Tehran ‘lobbies’ for US talks
By Guy Dinmore in Washington
FT
April 7 2006 03:00
Iran has prepared a high-level delegation to hold talks with the US,
but the Bush administration, which insists negotiations be limited to
the subject of Iraq, is resisting a wide-ranging agenda, Iranian
politicians have told the Financial Times.
A senior Iranian official, Mohammad Nahavandian, has flown to
Washington to “lobby” over the issue, according to a top Iranian
adviser outside the US.
However, the Iranian mission to the United Nations said he was in
Washington on private business.
Iran’s willingness to engage the US on Iraq, regional security and its
nuclear programmes is believed to have the approval of the supreme
leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It represents the most serious attempt
by the Islamic republic to reach out to the US since the 1979 Islamic
revolution.
“There are none and none are scheduled,” Stephen Hadley, national
security adviser, was quoted by a spokesman as saying about the
prospect of talks with the Iranian delegation in Baghdad next week.
A senior Iranian adviser said the Iranian delegation was headed by Ali
Hossein-Tash, the main deputy to Ali Larijani who is secretary of the
Supreme National Security Council and the chief official dealing with
the nuclear issue.
Three other negotiators, all attached to the council, include a deputy
intelligence minister who was previously based in Baghdad, a former
Revolutionary Guards member and Kurdish expert, and a political
specialist.
Mr Nahavandian, a deputy for economic affairs to Mr Larijani, is in
Washington, several Iranian sources told the FT, revealing the rare
presence of a senior Iranian in the US capital. White House and State
Department officials denied all knowledge of his presence.
The Bush administration is resisting pressure from its European allies
to engage Iran directly over its alleged nuclear weapons programme
rather than leave negotiations to the EU3 of France, Germany and the
UK. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German foreign minister, raised this
with Mr Hadley this week, and Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, is
understood to have spoken about it with President George W. Bush.
Javad Zarif, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, stressed
Iran’s willingness to talk in an opinion piece published by the New
York Times yesterday. He denied US claims that Iran had a covert
nuclear weapons programme and said Iran was ready for intrusive
international inspections.
“Pressure and threats do not resolve problems. Finding solutions
requires political will and a readiness to engage in serious
negotiations. Iran is ready.
We hope the rest of the world will join us,” he said.
One US insider suggested the Bush administration might agree to
broaden the agenda after an initial meeting restricted to Iraq. The US
offer of talks about Iraq was made several months ago by Zalmay
Khalilzad, US ambassador to Baghdad.
Meanwhile, the US rhetoric is sounding progressively tougher. Nicholas
Burns, under-secretary of state, yesterday accused Iran of being
“expansionist”, “a central banker of terrorism” and directing attacks
on US citizens. Last week, the UN Security Council issued a mildly
worded presidential statement calling on Iran to resume its suspension
of fuel cycle development.
Russia blocked tougher language. John Bolton, US ambassador to the UN,
said yesterday the next step was to pass a legally binding “chapter
seven” resolution requiring Iran to suspend its nuclear programme.
Additional reporting by Negar Roshanzamir in Tehran
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
