Iran to cooperate if US stops 'bullying'

TEHRAN, Iran, June 21 (UPI) -- Former Iranian President Ali-Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said Friday his country would cooperate with the United States if Washington changed its attitude.

"If America drops its bullying as well as its imperialist policies, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to cooperate," Rafsanjani told a large congregation attending Friday prayers in Tehran.

Rafsanjani's comments were softer than those coming from Tehran in recent weeks. On May 24, Iranian state radio quoted Rafsanjani as saying talks with Washington were stupid and shameless.

In April, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei put Rafsanjani in charge of a committee to look into means of opening talks with Washington. There have been reports in recent months of contacts between representatives of the two countries.

Rafsanjani, a former president and speaker of the majlis, is the chairman of the powerful Expediency Council, which resolves disputes between the majlis and the powerful watchdog Council of Guardians.

"Tehran is not pursuing an adventurist policy against America," Rafsanjani said Friday.

If the United States "shows good will and treats other countries on an equal footing, Iran is ... ready for all kinds of cooperation with America," he said.

Both countries cooperated on the deposing of Afghanistan's Taliban regime last December and in the setting up of the U.N.-backed interim government in that country. However, since then, Tehran has courted and supported anti-U.S. warlord Ismail Khan in western Afghanistan.

Rafsanjani Friday also recalled that Iran had condemned the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, and yet President Bush clubbed the country along with North Korea and Iraq in the "axis of evil."

Rafsanjani denied U.S. accusations that Iran supported terrorism. Tehran backs the Lebanon's anti-Israel militant Hezbollah group, which is on the U.S. State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations.

"The United States falsely refers to the Islamic Republic of Iran," Rafsanjani said, "as a supporter of terrorism since we back Palestinians, but America, which is backing Israel with all means, is said to be the supporter of civilization and righteousness."

The United States and Iran broke ties not long after the Iranian militant students stormed the American Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and took hostage 52 staffers for 444 days.

I still remember with horror, Dan Rather interviewing Ayatollah Khomeini in Paris. Rather made him sound like a wonderful Muslim Religious man who would bring faith in God back to an Iran gone wrong under the EVIL Shah.

Rather slobbered over Khomeini the way he has more recently hung on the Sainted Fidel.

Iran, Iraq and most all of the Muslim nations are coming to believe that Bush is gonna take those that oppose us down one at a time.

Right now they Muslims are just playing, "I am not as uncooperative with Bush as you are" with each other.

...and your point is...?...

Spot on, Potato Man!

Not only have the Saudis and everyone else with gray matter between their ears figured that Bush means business, but the Persians are out trying to "make a deal".

This is a signal from them that they're ready to "do business". The agitprop and expressions of defiance are so much human waste. The Iranians see this as a chance to sit in on the top table at the Post Iraq peace conference as a major player.

I am actually counting on a surprise visit by Powell or Cheney to Tehran before the end of the year. Natch, it would be a lance aimed at the dark heart in Baghdad, and it would be felt. But the Saudis would also begin to think anew. Any move towards Tehran would have to be conducted in high secrecy. You'll recall that Mao and Zhou Enlai only were able to make their opening to Nixon once Lin Biao had been assassinated.

An opening to Tehran changes the political dynamic in the Middle East and actually makes possible an eastern front against Saddam. As for the psychological costs to the Saudis, their game of playing the Americans, the Russians, the Chicoms, and the Iranians off against each other may be coming to a close.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

Wow, great analysis - sounds like you've had some FAO training! I tend to agree with just about every part of what you just wrote. With so many possibilities, this one has all the star players in a proper alignment. I just wonder if Israel has finally had enough, even though they are building the fence, they are taking and holding ground, calling up 25% of the Reserves (wasn't a similar amount already called up and still on duty...?); anyway, they may force an early "situation" which demands the US expedite it's plans, its diplomacy or lack of it as the situation may well require....

Yup, compared with playing with the USSR, lining up things against Saddam and then, if needed, against the Saudis, is simple for the son or the DCI, VP, and POTUS that helped win the Cold War - with a little help from dad's colleagues.

Don't get me wrong: Iran is guilty, but they have a lot more to lose. Iranians don't want to spend two more generations as a third world hell hole. They can remember when they were a civilized up and coming place.

"...Don't get me wrong: Iran is guilty, but they have a lot more to lose. Iranians don't want to spend two more generations as a third world hell hole. They can remember when they were a civilized up and coming place. .."

It's also tough being put on a 'Hit-List', and knowing about it.

I agree with your assesment, eno. I think most Iranians want the 'good-new-days' rather than the 7'th century days of endless misery, especially for women!

It's curious that N.O.W. hasen't endorsed Bushs' War-on-Terrorism yet, but they're just an arm of the DNC, an arm that democRATS can lick and then shove down their pants and then leave dead in some Park in washingtoon!

If you think the Iranians are gonna get it bad, and they will, you'd better look at the shit-hole called 'washingtoon'! You're already bent-over, pally, and there ain't no Vaseline! .............FRegards

"An opening to Tehran changes the political dynamic in the Middle East and actually makes possible an eastern front against Saddam. As for the psychological costs to the Saudis, their game of playing the Americans, the Russians, the Chicoms, and the Iranians off against each other may be coming to a close."

This almost seems too much to hope for, but I hope!

Off Topic-You Rock!

So many choices of who is next!While I can see the absolute wisdom of containing WWIII, I am not alone in wanting the total destruction of the root cause of international terrorism.

IMHO, the Saudi's are the true root.

We keep hearing such reports of Iranian gestures toward us and of the younger generation being pro-western. It is also claimed that there is some sort of democracy there, although I am not sure what. But it all suggests to me that we may get a lot more mileage from engaging Iran than fanatically Islamist Pakistan, where most of them hate us.

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