Kharrazi: Iran wants better ties with US

Al Bawaba, the Middle East Gateway ^ | May 08 2003

[knighthawk]

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi has said the Islamic Republic wants to improve relations with the United States, the official IRNA news agency said on Thursday.

"Generally, Iran wants to expand its relations with all countries, even with America," IRNA quoted Kharrazi as saying during a one-day visit to Luxembourg on Wednesday.

Iran's hardline judiciary last year declared illegal any calls for restoring relations with the United States.

In Luxembourg, Kharrazi was expected to meet Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, President of Parliament Jean Spautz and Foreign Minister Lydie Polfer and discuss bilateral ties and regional and international developments.

The Iranian foreign minister was also to be received by the Grand-Duc of Luxembourg.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[tdadams]

First India and Pakistan, now Iran and the U.S. Funny how all of a sudden the Middle East seems to be much more congenial.

[Eala]

Iran's hardline judiciary last year declared illegal any calls for restoring relations with the United States.

Unless the Foreign Minister makes the call? I think they're getting a bit worried...

[Bringbackthedraft]

Something is fishy here. I don't trust the mullah regime any more than I trust Hillary.

[joesnuffy]

Hopefully this report of Iranians invading Iraq isn't true ....

[DoctorMichael]

Is that a line of sweat I see forming on that towel on your head?

[AmericanAge]

The foreign minister is on the elected (and largely secular) side of government, headed by Khatami; however, the relgious side holds the veto power and controls the courts, and that is headed by Khomeini. This is long-standing; the elected side wants better ties, the religious side wants worse ties; they tend to flip-flop around because of this, as the elected side runs the day-to-day operations but the religious side can override.