DATE=10/22/1999 TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT TITLE=U-S - IRAN RELATIONS NUMBER=5-44600 BYLINE=ED WARNER DATELINE=WASHINGTON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: The United States and Iran no longer seem to be enemies, but are not yet friends. Some key issues keep them apart, notably the Middle East peace process, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. In a recent speech, a top U-S official said it is time for dialogue, but the Iranian response was cool. V-O- A's Ed Warner asked two former U-S ambassadors about the prospects for a closer relationship between the two countries. TEXT: The United States is prepared to develop a road map in which this country and Iran will take parallel steps toward the goal of normal relations. That was the proposal offered by Martin Indyk, Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs, in a recent speech to the Asia Society. He noted some of the cooperative steps the two countries have taken in dealing with illicit drugs and encouraging people-to- people exchanges. As a result, the United States has relaxed sanctions on the sale of food and medicine to Iran. The United States still accuses Iran of harboring terrorists, but Mr. Indyk noted that Iran is also a victim of terrorism. Attacks on Iranian officials have led the United States to declare Iran's main opposition group - the National Council of Resistance - a terrorist organization. Mr. Indyk said the usual Iranian response to any American proposal for dialogue is rigid and unimaginative. So he was probably not surprised by a brusque reaction from Iranian leaders. They insist on the United States first taking some practical steps - such as lifting more sanctions. The United States is anxious for better relations with Iran, says Roscoe Suddarth, president of the Middle East Institute and a former U-S ambassador to Jordan. The point of the Indyk speech is to keep doors open, he says, but Iranians have shut the door on the Middle East peace process: /// Suddarth act /// They are still having robust support for Hamas and Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah at a time, as Indyk said, when even (Libyan leader Muammar) Qadhafi is withdrawing support, apparently from organizations like Abu Nidal. So it is not just the rhetoric against the peace process, but it is also supporting groups that could actively undermine it through acts of terrorism. /// End Act /// Ambassador Suddarth says there is no evidence Iran is promoting terrorism, but it keeps its ties to terrorist groups. It has not cooperated in the investigation of the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia that killed nineteen Americans: /// Suddarth Act /// I always encourage my Iranian contacts if they want to do one thing - and it is a relatively small thing - to interest the United States and get some movement, it would be to cut off funding for Islamic Jihad, which is a far smaller party and one that has a far greater proportion of its activities devoted to violence and terrorism than either Hezbollah or Hamas. /// End Act /// Ambassador Suddarth says better relations will depend on President Mohammed Khatami exercising more power with the support of a younger, more open generation of Iranians. The president is a critical figure, says William Miller, a former U-S ambassador to Ukraine who also served in Iran for five years. He thinks President Khatami's pragmatic, incremental approach will yield results: /// Miller Act /// It really involves the entire nature of our respective societies; that is, trade, commerce, business, science, education, culture, travel - the things that make up most of the relationship between nations. After all, diplomacy and political settlements are a very small part of what is involved in the interaction of countries with each other. /// End Act /// Ambassador Miller says the more Americans and Iranians interact the better. He believes majorities in both countries want a settlement of outstanding issues so that they can get on with normal activities. Disputes are easier to solve between friends than enemies. Conservative clerics are an obstacle to closer relations, but Ambassador Miller notes there are other religious leaders in Iran: /// Miller Act /// Iran is not fundamentalist. Iran is a very complicated society which has a varied approach to many of the aspects of life. Its religion is led by people of great learning and distinction. It has men of great openness and character among the religious leadership with whom you can have a very direct and constructive dialogue. /// End Act /// Ambassador Miller and others say much depends on which voices prevail in Iran - those that are open to the world or those that are not. (signed) NEB/EW/JP 22-Oct-1999 18:01 PM EDT (22-Oct-1999 2201 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
