U.S. Hopes for Changed Policies by Iran, Better Relations with It

[norml]

U.S. Hopes for Changed Policies by Iran, Better Relations with It
State's Burns says Iran moving against tide of global events



The United States hopes for better relations with Iran, but the onus is on the government in Tehran to change its policies on human rights, weapons of mass destruction and attempts to destabilize the region, says Nicholas Burns, under secretary of state for political affairs.

"In each of these three areas, Iran has a demonstrated track record of moving backwards against the tide of world events," Burns said in prepared testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee May 19.

Burns stressed that the U.S. concerns are with the Iranian government, not the Iranian people, and the United States is proud of its Iranian immigrant community.

"...nly a generation ago, 200,000 Iranians were studying in the U.S. The United States is proud to be home to a large community of extremely talented Iranian immigrants who preserve a cultural and personal bridge to Iran where diplomatic contact long ago broke off," Burns said.




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http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/Archive/2005/May/19-702508.html

[FreedomAngel82]

1. Who's tide of events?

Yours? Yeah, right. You know they're going to attack. This is their plan. Make it look like they're not corporating (in reality I'm sure they are) and then make it look like they'll attack us (which will be false) and then they'll attack.

[norml]

2. EXCLUSIVE - Rafsanjani urges U.S. to begin thaw in ties

EXCLUSIVE - Rafsanjani urges U.S. to begin thaw in ties
Thu May 19, 2005 10:07 PM ET

By Paul Holmes and Barry Moody

TEHRAN (Reuters) - The man thought most likely to be Iran's next president said on Thursday he wanted to repair relations with the United States, but Washington had to take the first steps to end 25 years of enmity.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, in his first interview since declaring his bid for an unprecedented third term as president, also said he would never abandon the country's nuclear programme, comparing such a step to ceding Iranian land.

"It is like giving away part of our territory," Rafsanjani told Reuters. "This is our nation's legitimate right ... especially when it is in accordance with international laws and regulations."

Rafsanjani, 70, served two terms as president from 1989 to 1997 and announced last week he would run in a June 17 election. Opinion polls put him well ahead of other candidates.




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http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=8541567&type=worldNews