Скачать или смотреть USA: DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH IRAN APPEAR TO BE IMPROVING

(10 Dec 1997) English/Nat

The Clinton administration on Tuesday welcomed conciliatory statements towards the West by Iran's president.

It said it was hopeful these sentiments will translate into a less hostile foreign policy by Tehran.

State Department spokesman James Foley also reaffirmed American willingness to improve diplomatic relations with the Iranian leadership.

The U-S position was outlined against the backdrop of a growing power struggle between old guard Iranian clerics hostile to the United States and a more moderate faction led by President Mohammad Khatami.

Deep divisions in Iran were exposed in sharply contrasting statements by Khatami and Iran's leading religious figure, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei told the delegates that Muslims should fear the U-S and not Iran.

The recently elected Khatami, on the other hand, suggested the time had come for dialogue with the West.

The State Department responded cautiously to Khatami's statement.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well certainly we would welcome and support the idea of an open dialogue between different cultures and civilizations. I think president Khatami has been endeavoring to emphasise the commonality of world civilization and of world values, and we hope that those kinds of remarks begin to be reflected also in the foreign policy sphere, in the way nations deal with each other on a state-to-state level."
SUPER CAPTION: James Foley, State Department Spokesman

Foley's comments suggested a shift away from the usual focus on American concerns about Iran's nuclear weapons development, its sponsorship of terrorism and its efforts to undermine the Middle East peace process - though these remain concerns.

He also reaffirmed U-S interest in a dialogue with Iran, under certain conditions.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We've been intrigued by the Iranian people's choice of a new president and we are watching carefully the evolution of Iranian policies, particularly in the foreign policy area which, for obvious reasons, is of greatest concern to us and we've also long been open to a dialogue with the Iranian government, our only stipulation has been that such a dialogue take place with an authorised representative of the government and that it be acknowledged publicly ."
SUPER CAPTION: James Foley, State Department Spokesman

Khatami has been the subject of considerable interest in the U-S since his election last May.

At the time, President Bill Clinton called the election of a leader with more moderate credentials "interesting and hopeful."

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