Iranian Cries in the Wilderness--(signals re: talks rejected)

[Gloria]

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com

More headlines & summaries at my Journal

2//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong May 2, 2006

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HE02Ak04.html



IRANIAN CRIES IN THE WILDERNESS

By Gareth Porter

WASHINGTON - Iranian leaders have been signaling to Washington since late last year that Iran wanted direct negotiations with the United States on Tehran's nuclear program and other outstanding issues between the two countries.

The campaign began with private talks between Iranian officials and foreign visitors in the country, and has included public suggestions by members of the Iranian parliament for US-Iranian talks. But last week, President Mahmud Ahmadinejad indicated for the first time that he was open to talks with Washington.

(SNIP)

Ahmadinejad's remark, which was reported by the independent Paris-based Iran News Service, went unnoticed in the US media. However, the media did report the Iranian president's statement in the same press conference that talks with the US on Iraq were not necessary now that a government had been set up in Baghdad.

(SNIP)

These new public signals came against a background of a quiet diplomatic campaign by Iranian officials in recent months to communicate Iran's readiness to negotiate directly with the US on broad security issues. They have sent that message through both diplomats and other prominent figures who have met with them in Tehran.



(SNIP)



Some analysts familiar with the thinking of Iranian national-security officials believe they have gone ahead with partial enrichment to position themselves for broader talks with the US going beyond the nuclear issue.

(SNIP)

Journalist Praful Bidwai reported for Inter Press Service last week that government officials and other experts in Tehran told him there was "fairly broad agreement" that a compromise proposal on the nuclear issue and security guarantees and normalization of US relations with Iran could be negotiated.

[msongs]

1. Iran oughta come right out and SAY WHAT it wants upfront and quit

messing around. call a press conference and say they want to normalize relationships, etc, and call the BUSH gangsters bluffs.

when confronting a bully, confront the bully directly because hints and winks will not do the job.

Msongs
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