Kamal Kharrazi: Tehran Seeks Dialogue on Improving Relations with the U.S.

Kamal Kharrazi, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated that Tehran is seeking dialogue regarding the improvement of relations with the United States but is waiting for Washington to take the first step. In a press conference on Sunday, Kharrazi said it is up to the U.S. to present any new proposals. Previously, Richard Armitage, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, had stated that the U.S. desires improved relations with Iran but is waiting for Tehran to take the first step. Kharrazi's remarks were, in fact, a reaction to Armitage's statements. Kharrazi considered Armitage's comments to be a repetition of past rhetoric and urged Washington to take action for improving relations. He also accused the U.S. of ignoring Iran's support in the ousting of the Taliban from Afghanistan and of organizing bandits and terrorists against Iran's national interests. Kharrazi's reference was to the operations of Sunni groups along the Iran-Afghanistan borders. The U.S. severed diplomatic relations with Tehran in 1979 following the occupation of its embassy in Tehran by radical students and the hostage-taking of embassy staff for 444 days. Last year, President Bush labeled Iran alongside Iraq and North Korea as part of an 'axis of evil,' claiming that these three countries were seeking weapons of mass destruction. Many Iranians are concerned that in the ongoing U.S. war on terrorism and following a potential military attack on Iraq, Iran could be the next target of U.S. military action.