IRAN: Bending on nuclear talks?

Is Iran ready to talk?

After spurning European offers to return to the negotiating table over its nuclear enrichment program, a powerful Iranian politician said his country is ready to compromise.

Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a relative moderate who heads the country's powerful Expediency Council, told worshipers gathered for Friday prayer in Tehran today that negotiation is "the best thing" to resolve the dispute between the West and Tehran over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Iran has thus far declined to sit down with European officials to craft another package of incentives in exchange for suspending its nuclear enrichment program. Powerful voices in the Iranian political scene have demanded that Iran not budge one inch on the issue of enrichment.

Iran argues that it is permitted to enrich uranium under the terms of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which allows signatories to develop nuclear technology so long as they abide by international safeguards. The U.S. counters that Iran's past nuclear activities place a cloud of suspicion over Iran's drive to master the enrichment of uranium, the key technical hurdle in developing a nuclear weapons program as well as creating fuel to power an electricity plant.

Rafsanjani didn't say if Iran would be willing to negotiate over its enrichment program. But he did say Iran could continue its "peaceful" and "legal" nuclear activities while resuming negotiations. It was a hint of flexibility coming from one faction within the Iranian leadership:

Although the [International Atomic Energy Agency] has emphasized that Iran has not deviated in its [nuclear] activities, the oppressor powers have still not ended creating troubles for us. I tell them they are making a mistake and that the only result of what they are doing is further polluting of the atmosphere of the region and the world... Under such conditions that Iran is ready for sitting at the negotiation table although its activities, too, are completely legal and we have signed the entire related commitments and are abiding by them, I think the best thing to do for both sides is to negotiate.

Meanwhile, a voice within the U.S. government has also called for talks with Iran. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein told an audience in Washington this week that the U.S. should engage in unconditional talks with Iran over a number of issues, including its nuclear program.

U.S. and Iranian officials already talk (or talk of talking) about security in Iraq. But so far, the Bush administration has refused to speak with Iran about its nuclear program unless it suspends its enrichment program.

Feinstein spoke at a conference organized by the National Iranian American Council, a Beltway lobbying group that advocates better relations between Washington and Tehran:

I believe we should begin to pursue a robust, diplomatic initiative with Iran on all issues and without preconditions. These [past] offers have been presented with preconditions and without the full engagement of the United States. We need a fresh approach and fresh ideas.

— Borzou Daragahi in Beirut

Photo: Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Credit: Islamic Republic News Agency

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Comments

[Yari Nationa Group]

OPEN LETTER TO HONORABLE SENATOR DIANE FEINSTEIN (D-CALIFORNIA)

HONORABLE SENATOR FEINSTEIN

Once again, the shameless Iranian Lobby Group known as National Iranian-American Council (NIAC) has been able to pull wool over the political system in United States. Under the false guise of "representing Iranian-Americans" in here, has been able to open the political doors to achieve their diabolical schemes.

Below, please read what has come to light about this shameless group. They have one goal and one goal only. That is to promote the interest and desires of ISLAMO-FACIST Fanatic Mullah's of Iran.

Regardless, of any consequences or cost to the Iran people at large. This group will do anything in order to open the doors for Mullah's here in United States.

It is not enough Iranian community in here has to deal with Ministry of Information agents day in and day out. It is not enough that Mullah's have killed well over 300 of opposition leaders abroad to silence the community. It is not enough that Mullah's have executed well over 100,000 people.

It is not enough that the agents of the Mullah's regime are on every airways in United States made by Iranians, in order to scare them into submission and silence, they even go to Voice of America, Persian programs communication lines in order to remind Iranians, they are everywhere and watching them!

Now, with powerful Lobby Groups like NIAC, they are attempting to change everything in favor of themselves.

Please understand. Iranian-Americans living here in United States are some of most educated, Nobel and hard working people ever immigrated to America.

We have left our country due to the persecution of ISLAMIC REGIME. We left everything behind and started a new life here in America.

By nature, the Iranian-American community is timid. They observe the laws and make sure they are not on anyone's way. This is where these shameless Lobby Groups come in.

They all claim, they are representing the Iranian-Americans here in America! In reality, they do not represent anyone other than few lackey's of the Mullah's regime and some handful special interest groups, itching to have sanctions removed in order for them to start selling high tech computer and other products to Mullah's.

They are mostly based in Northern California's Silicon Valley business owners who openly are supporting the Mullah's regime only for their greed and money making schemes.

We urge you to open dialog with Iranian-American community in your district. Ask them what they think of NIAC and it's President Mr. Trita Parsi. Let us have a open town hall meeting with you.

Let them tell you their life story. There is not a family around who has not lost a beloved member to these shameless Mullah's regime.

Why do you think 6 Million Iranians are in exile?

We don't want Bombing Iran. We don't want Mullah's Behavior Change like the State Department is talking. After all, you can't teach a new trick to a hardened Fanatical Mullah!

However, all of us are in favor of MULLAH'S REGIME CHANGE. Being replaced with a Secular and Democratic Government.

The only way to achieve this goal is to have hard sanctions against Mullah's of Iran. Designed to hurt them. You can allow medicine and food go to Iran. But stop the sales of refined petrol to mullah's and stop purchasing Crude Oil from them.

We can tell you even these meager sanctions are working! This is the reason now NIAC is on high gear, trying to influence the political system in United States.

Please bear in mind, the Mullah's of Iran are deceptive. They will lie right in your face. When you are at a comfort level, they will stab you in the back. They have proven this fact many times.

When you negotiate, will you bring up the Human Rights Issue? Women's Right issues? Execution of minors? Security of Israel? Stopping the aid to all Terror groups such as HAMAS, HEZULLAH, JEYSH AL MAHDI, ANSAR ISLAM, JIHAD ISLAM AND ETC? Stopping their Missile program? Granting freedom of speech? Letting news papers to open again and print the real truth? Stop robbing the Iranian people blind? Stop giving the money that is badly needed at home to all rouge and anti-American nations?

You see? the issues are too many. The Mullah's hand are soiled with too many innocent Iranian's blood. It will be hard to wash this shameful stain!

In conclusion. We like to point out to you, if you see the Iranian-American community silent, it is due to Mullah's harassment techniques being used in here and elsewhere. The fear of retaliation against their families and loved ones back in Iran and hundreds of Millions of Dollars the Mullah's are spending to buy the politicians abroad and silence the Iranian community.

Furthermore, National Iranian-American Council as you see below is a Lobby group belonging to mullah's. They have never represented Iranian-Americans and they never will.

Most Iranian-Americans hate this group and it's president with a passion!

In light of above, we ask you to reconsider your decision and close any and all ties with this shameful group who is hell bend in promoting bunch of butcher, fanatic and backward Mullah's planning to destroy what is decent and good in the world.

Very truly yours,
YARI NATIONAL GROUP
UNITED WE STAND. DIVIDED WE FALL
YARILOSANGELES@AOL.COM OR YARILOSANGELES@YAHOO.COM

[Ziggy]

If you think that military action against Iran will do anything positive, think again. If Iran is attacked, it may slow its nuclear development up, but only temporarily and at a huge cost to Israel. Once Iran is attacked, it is guaranteed that it will immediately leave the NPT, kick all IAEA monitors out and then go hell for leather to develop nuclear weapons. Right now, Iran is in full compliance with the NPT and has stated categorically that it has no interest in nuclear weapons. However, an attack will turn this entire policy 180 degrees and Iran will eventually become a bellligerent nuclear power and there will be nothing the West can do to stop this. I can't believe that anybody would advocate a military attack on a nation that is doing nothing more than conducting legal nuclear development under an international treaty, something that it is entitled to do. However, if Iran is attacked by Israel, it won't be like Syria. Such stupid action may very well lead to the annihilation of the Jewish state.

[Elmieroy]

You can always tell when these guys are having problems building their nuclear warheads. This hint of negotiations means that they have overcome some obstacle, had they been at the podium cursing the US then you know that things aren't going that well in the R&D.
By the time the US and Iran sit and talk the warheads will already have been built.
Got to hand it to them though, they sure know how to use world policies to defeat their enemies.

[Reza]

We need to change the gear in dealing with the Iranians. Military threat won't work. Cool heads, eventually, prevail.

[Reza]

Iran and Nuclear Energy,

So far, the IAEA has declared that Iran has not violated uranium enrichment policies. Meanwhile, American Enterprise Institute, NSA, and others alike are beating up the drum of false prophecies. They are after the OIL and nothing else. They use fear tactics to scare ordinary people.
Debacle with Iran will not be resolved with military means. Iran is not Iraq. We need to shift the gear.