Iranian Leader Rules Out Talks with US Amid Speculations

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, May 24, 2002

Iranian Leader Rules Out Talks with US Amid Speculations

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Iranian supreme leader leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has lashed out at the ideas of holding talks with the United States as "treason and stupidity", virtually nipping the controversial contacts in the bud.

Addressing local people, Khamenei, who has the final say on all state affairs in Iran, said on Wednesday that "those who are raising the topic of holding negotiations with the U.S. officials know nothing of politics or dignity."

Khamenei's harsh words came as speculations circled around that closed-door talks between Iran and the Unites States have taken place since November 2001 in Cyprus or Turkey.

Mohsen Mirdamadi, head of the Iranian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission, earlier asserted that Iran and the United States were secretly conducting talks and claimed to have information about those contacts.

But the Iranian Foreign Ministry has denied having such sensitive contacts. The government even ordered the Information Ministry to investigate the case and clarify the issue.

Iran's Minister of Information Ali Yunesi on Wednesday categorically rejected speculations that Iran has been negotiating with its arch-foe for the past 23 years.

"These reports are rumors and at a time when the United States is threatening our nation, any talks with it are against our national interests," Yunesi said.

Throwing his weight behind conservatives, Khamenei pointed out that Washington is trying "by the most sneaky means to get its dirty hands on Iran" and by cultural, economic and political methods to re-impose its past influence on the country.

The leader stressed the need to promote the unity and solidarityamong the Iranians to counter any threat and ploys by enemies.

But Mirdamadi claimed the probe conducted by the Information Ministry was not valid, alleging that Yunesi's remarks could hurt the credibility of the intelligence ministry.

The reformist lawmaker scolded Yunesi for voicing "his own personal views" and urged his ministry to gather all its information and study it before jumping to any conclusions on the matter.

The United States and Iran have had no relations since Iranian students stormed the American Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and took its staff hostage for 444 days.

In view of the latest developments in the world, Mirdamadi's commission held a two-day seminar on Tuesday to study the prospectsof Iran-U.S. relations.

Mohammad Reza Bahonar, a conservative activist, opined that Washington should first meet certain demands from Tehran if it wants any talks on resumption of ties.

Hamid Reza Taraqqi, the political secretary of the conservative Islamic Coalition Society, stated that the United States should accept three main preconditions.

"American should first consider the fact that the Islamic republic is an Islamic system. Second, it should not interfere in our internal affairs. And third, it should stop supporting Israel,"he told the Iran Daily.

Ahmad Bakhshayeshi, a university professor, aired the view that "Iran cannot approach the United States easily because the Islamic republic today serves as a model for Muslims around the world" in combating global hegemony.

A more pragmatic view came from lawmaker Mohammad Dadfar, who noted that many countries have problems with America, yet they maintain relations despite differences.

Iranian and the United States saw their hostility thaw for a short while after the September 11 terror attacks in the United States. The two sides found them on a temporary common ground when the United States launched the anti-terror war in Afghanistan, where the then ruling Taliban regime was also considered a threat by Tehran.

With the toppling of the Taliban, the two countries were soon atodds again. U.S. President George W. Bush accused Iran as part of an "axis of evil" with programs to acquire or develop weapons of mass destruction.

In its annual report on world terrorism issued on Tuesday, the U.S. State Department identified Iran as the "most active" terror supporter in 2001, an allegation vehemently rejected by Tehran.

Washington's hardline stand has virtually dashed hope at least for the time being for any talks on resumption of ties with Tehran,where some reformists until recently advocated a try.

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