Iran cautious over US report seeking engagement

Tehran, Dec 8: Iran has responded cautiously to proposals forthe United States to engage its foe directly, as analysts say Tehranwaits to see whether President George W Bush embraces the idea and whatconcessions it can win.

The US bipartisan Iraq Study Group called on Wednesday for a newdiplomatic push by Washington, including urging the United States todeal directly with Iraq's neighbours, Iran and Syria.

Bush said he would take the report ''very seriously''. But theWhite House also said the president would not be bound by the report'sideas and rejected one-on-one talks with Iran for now.

''Any decision by the United States to withdraw from Iraq does notrequire any negotiations with Iran or any other country in theregion,'' Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told the satellitechannel Al Jazeera television.

''(The) report has some important points ... There seems to be atleast some aspects of the US administration's policy in Iraq which areconsidered to have been mistaken,'' he said.

Analysts say Iran is in no hurry to respond more positively atthis stage, although some say Tehran would like to talk if it felt itcould win security assurances and other concessions.

Washington broke ties with Tehran shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution and past efforts at talks were abortive.

''The Iranians feel confident at the moment that the Americans arereally not in a position to impose anything on Iran and also not in aposition to solve any issues in Iraq without the help of Iran,'' saidone Iranian political analyst, who asked not be identified.

Iran, the world's fourth largest oil exporter enjoying an oilwindfall, feels it has a strong hand to make demands as US troopsbattle rising violence in Iraq and the UN Security Council isdeadlocked over Iran's atomic plans.

The United States and European nations, who accuse Iran of tryingto make nuclear bombs despite Tehran's denials, want to imposesanctions but Russia has sought to reduce any penalties.

Compromise

Iran is wary Washington could drag it into helping calmIraq ''without giving any concession'', the analyst said, adding thattalks could happen but ''it will be a long process''.

Tehran is still bitter that after assisting Washington in its warin Afghanistan and sitting down to multilateral talks afterwards, Bushstill branded Iran part of the ''axis of evil''.

Washington accuses Iran of fuelling the violence in Iraq, while Iran blames the US occupation.

''America's engagement with Iran on stabilising Iraq can beuseful, but a package of compromises should be considered,'' a formersenior Iranian official told Reuters.

''As America could not compromise on Iran's nuclear issue, Iran also cannot focus on assisting America to resolve Iraq's issue.

Everything is related to each other,'' he said.

Analysts say Iran wants concessions such as an end to talk of''regime change'', assurances about the role of US troops in the regionand moves to end US sanctions on Tehran.

Some analysts say Iran's self-confidence could scuttle talks before they start if Tehran overplayed its hand with Washington.

Tehran University professor Hamidreza Jalaiepour said anti-USPresident Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government may be a better partner fortalks than a more moderate one because ''no one will make obstacles''.

When pro-reform former President Mohammad Khatami made overtures to the West, he was stymied by hardline rivals.

Reuters