Iran proposes direct negotiations with U.S.


First contact since 1979, letter from Ahmadinejad to Bush offers bilateral negotiations "new solutions for getting out of international problems and the current fragile situation of the world".


Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has written to George W Bush proposing “new solutions for getting out of international problems and the current fragile situation of the world”, he said.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told Iran’s Isna news agency that once Mr Bush had received the letter, the contents would be made public.

It is significant because it is the first such high-level communication between Iran and America for almost three decades. As such it is a bold step by Mr Ahmadinejad, and the timing is key - just as the West is trying to persuade Russia and China to back tough action against Iran.

Mr Ahmadinejad is reinforcing the point that he is willing to negotiate with anyone, including the US president, to avoid conflict over the nuclear issue, our correspondent adds.

The US and Iran have not had diplomatic relations since Washington severed ties with Tehran after Iranian students occupied the US embassy there and took 52 Americans hostage in 1980.

I doubt if either Rumsfeld or Rove will allow Bush to accept any plan for bilateral negotiations. If you’re trying to impress the world with sword-rattling, traditional diplomacy is an unlikely strategy or tactic. For either side.

Posted: Mon - May 8, 2006 at 06:35 AM