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Thursday, Jul 17, 2008
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U.S. official to meet Iranian diplomat

Atul Aneja

DUBAI: A high-ranking American official is set to hold a face-to-face meeting with a senior Iranian diplomat over Tehran’s nuclear programme. This decision comes after Washington stonewalled direct involvement in talks.

William Burns, third highest ranking U.S. diplomat, will participate in a meeting in Geneva with Saeed Jalili, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Mr. Burns will join negotiators from the European Union during the meeting slated for July 19.

Analysts point out that growing domestic pressure in the U.S. favouring “tough diplomacy” with Iran and exhortations from its European allies for holding talks appear to have led to the volte-face in the American stance. There is also a view that in case Iran refuses to shift its position despite American diplomatic involvement, a stronger case for imposing sanctions on it can then be made.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday supported the idea of talks, but insisted that Tehran would not give up its right to uranium enrichment. “Our red lines are clear and if the other parties respect the Iranian people, the dignity of the Islamic republic and these red lines, our officials will negotiate as long as no one makes any threats against Iran,” he said in Tehran. In case U.S. President George W. Bush ordered military action , “the Iranian people will pursue him and punish him even if he is not in power,” the Ayatollah warned.

Advocating a reduction in tensions, Mr. Burns has publicly endorsed a “freeze for freeze” proposal. Iran would be asked to hold back from advancing its nuclear infrastructure for six weeks. In return, fresh sanctions would not be imposed for this period.

Observers say this proposal, if acceptable to both sides, could pave the way for full American involvement in a nuclear dialogue with Iran.

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