Iran debates the future of its relations with the U.S.

By Laurent Maillard

TEHRAN (AFP): Fourteen years to the day after relations between Iran and the United States were broken off foreigners may be surprised to be served that all American symbol, Coca Cola, during a visit to state offices.

But it is just a sign of how Washington has in recent years discreetly become one of Tehran's main economic partners.

Officially Iranian leaders rule out any form of rapprochement with their number one foe in the West, dubbed "The Great Satan."

Iranian spiritual guide Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said: "Those inside the country who talk about negotiation with the United States are either naive or oblivious."

But behind the scenes a lively debate has been going on for more than a year on a possible normalization of relations which ended officially on April 9, 1980, after the Islamic revolution toppled the pro-Western shah.

In March Anthony Lake, advisor to U.S. President Bill Clinton and deputy State Secretary for the Middle East Robert Pelletreau said Washington was ready to enter into talks with Tehran.

The English language Tehran Times immediately said Iran had "always left the door open" for a reconciliation provided Washington was prepared to make concessions.

And the Kayhan International paper, close to the most anti- American Islamic movement, said it would be in favor of a "negotiated settlement."

As Saturday's 14th anniversary approached, a leading religious leader Ayatollah Azari-Qomi said he was worried about the rumors of a resumption of relations with Washington.

"These rumors must be quashed at any price," he said.

But for the past two years the United States has quietly become one of the country's main economic partners, even though it still ranks in fourth place behind France and Britain.

In 1993 trade between the two countries rose by 40 percent on 1992 to US$1.8 billion, according to official figures.

The move was defended by President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in December as "independent from political relations." More and more U.S. products are to be found on sale in Iran, gaining extra prestige from a "made in the USA" label.

"Look it's American," a salesman exclaimed as he tried to explain to his client why a brand of vacuum cleaner was more expensive than a German model.

And last autumn U.S. goods were found displaying the stars and stripes for the first time at an international fair in Tehran. Not everyone is happy though with the re-emergence of U.S. goods as shown by the debate surrounding Coca Cola.

Even though the drink's instantly recognizable trade mark is to be found adorning hoarding in most Iranian cities, many Islamic groups and political leaders declared war on the brand and at the beginning of the year it was reported it was to be banned.

Three months later Coca Cola is still around and being happily served up to foreigners even in state offices.

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JP-Apr. 9, 1994 09:33