Iranian, U.S. elections may change relations

By Jean-Michel Cadiot

TEHRAN (AFP): Iranian-U.S. contacts are on the rise and upcoming elections in both countries may lead to a political dialogue, and even the re-establishment of ties severed 20 years ago, analysts said here.

This month Iranian footballers have played a friendly match against the United States in Los Angeles, American wrestlers took part in an international championship bout in Iran and U.S. mountain climbers scaled 5,671-meter-high Mount Damavand, considered the "roof of Iran."

Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said last Monday his country is "ready to negotiate" an end to the 20-year break in its relations with the United States but only "on the basis of mutual interest and equality."

However, Kharazi ruled out the possibility raised by Iranian economic officials that Washington might be allowed to open a consulate in a free zone on the Iranian Gulf island of Kish ahead of a full re-establishment of relations.

In December, Iran also rejected a proposal for a U.S. consular section in Tehran.

U.S. reaction to Kharazi's remarks was lukewarm, with State Department spokesman James Rubin saying there was "nothing new" in them.

Another State Department source said: "The first step for developing relations is for the two governments to engage (in) a dialogue on issues of concern for each other."

Relations were broken off following the seizure as hostages of staff at the U.S. embassy here in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic revolution. Washington continues to accuse Tehran of supporting terrorism.

Only about 150 Americans work in Iran, while 7,000 Iranian- Americans live in the United States. But in the past few months, Iranians who went west to study after the revolution have begun returning.

"What's new is that the Iranians no longer rule out holding discussions," a European diplomat told AFP as Kharazi left for Davos, Switzerland for an economic forum that western leaders will attend.

"Iran and the United States have shifting relations. Nothing is clear on either side," she said.

"There have been an increasing number of small signs recently of more contacts. But these signs are indecipherable. Like a couple, they will have to talk to each other, but there is nothing to show that this will happen immediately or quickly. It will take time."

"In a few days, Iran will hold legislative elections. And in a few months, the United States will have presidential elections. Inevitably, change will be the result," the diplomat added.

But hardline conservatives have been swift to resurrect the "Great Satan" image of Washington to counter the softer stance of the reformists in the run-up to the Feb. 18 elections.

A press report last Thursday said that Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, ideologue of the religious right, charged last Tuesday that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency had infiltrated the pro-reform government, and bribed journalists and cultural officials.

He echoed the recent denunciation by the head of the elite Revolutionary Guards, Gen. Rahim Safavi, of the "servants and agents of America who infiltrate the centers of cultural, economic and scientific decisions."

The pro-reform forces also oppose the immediate mending of ties with Washington, insisting that people-to-people contacts must come first along with greater openness in Iranian society.

Last Thursday, two American climbers who ascended Mount Damavand as part of a group of more than 200 Iranian and foreign alpinists said they wished to see better U.S.-Iranian ties.

Pascual Scattro said: "We shook hands on Everest in 1998, you know. The Iranians are very sweet and I love them."

"For relations with the United States, hopefully, it will get better," he added.

His comrade, Donald Beavon, said: "The Americans have a wrong perception of Iran. It's a very clean, familiar and agreeable country. Sports are a good opportunity. We ... climbers are a big family."