Iranian Signs on Talks with the US

Farhad Mahdavi, Rooz Online:

Even though the Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi announced that talks with the US are on on Iran’s agenda, there are signs that the groundwork for such a development is taking place after a 27-year break. READ MORE

While Western media such as Newsweek have reported that US ambassador to Baghdad Zalmay Khalilzad had been authorized by President George Bush to hold talks on Iraq’s insurgency with Iranian officials, others have confirmed that some preparatory work is already on its way.

Middle East analysts see the change in US policy or strategy indicative of their recognition of the influential role that Iran can play regarding US problems in Iraq. In this regard, Sharq newspaper quotes Roger Hardy, the Western analyst on the Middle East who says that the US is struggling with serious issues in Iraq and knows that Iran exercises considerable influence over events there and can make things worse for Washington. In other words, if the US shows some softness towards Iran, Iran would reciprocate with greater help to calm things in Iraq. Analysts also point out to the historic visit of Iraq’s president Jalal Talabani to Iran, who met with UN Secretary General Kofi Anan after that and said, “Iran has categorically said that it views terrorists as criminals and outside of Islam. It has promised us to help Iraqis in their battle against terrorists.”

Analysts point out that the first consequences of Tehran’s message to Washington through Jalal Talabani appeared in the quiet session of the IAEA last week on November 25th. The 100 day period provided to Iran is not just related to its nuclear file, but also to its “pledge” on other issues.

Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president and Majlis (Iran's Parliament) Speaker also made noteworthy references in last week’s Friday prayers in Tehran. “Our focus is on them ending their confrontation with us and moving towards cooperation. We are ready to cooperate. We must be patient so as not to create tension in the region and the world,” he said. Ataollah Mohajerani, a close associate of Rafsanjani and a former minister of culture during Mohammad Khatami’s presidency and the current head of the Center for Dialog of Civilizations recently said that Ahmadinejad and Bush have many similarities in views and so talks between them cannot be ruled out.