-Caveat Lector- Euphorian spotted this on the Guardian Unlimited site and thought you should see it.
To see this story with its related links on the Guardian Unlimited site, go to http://www.guardian.co.uk Iran unimpressed by Straw the mediator David Hearst in Tehran Wednesday October 09 2002 The Guardian The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, flew into a storm of protest orchestrated by Islamic hardliners against British attempts to mediate between Iran and the US. The Iranian foreign minister, Kamal Kharrazi, denounced US influence in the region and talked of "the deep hatred of the US felt in Islamic society". On the final day of Mr Straw's visit to each of Iraq's neighbours, Mr Kharrazi was in no mood to extend the welcome mat - at least in public. According to a senior British source present at the talks, Iran expressed its fury at having been placed on the list of rogue states during George Bush's "axis of evil" speech, despite its support for the US bombing of Afghanistan and Mr Kharrazi said that US actions "could not bring about confidence and trust". He added: "Through diplomatic means and through the United Nations we can solve this issue and we can force Iraq to give up its weapons of mass destruction." But a likely trade-off between the US and British position and the Iranian position began to emerge last night, in which Iran could tacitly back the use of force against Saddam Hussein as a last resort, if Britain agrees that a post-Saddam regime will represent Iran's interests and presses for Iran to be taken off the US list of pariah states. But there was no mistaking the genuine anger felt by some rival factions in Iran at Mr Straw's visit. A group of 30 Iranian students staged a demonstration outside the British ambassador's residence and an editorial in the conservative newspaper Johhouri-Eslani lambasted him. The editorial said: "The British try by words and deeds to make us believe that they have the confidence of the Iranian government and to play the role of mediators but public opinion in our country... is that we don't have the slightest confidence in the British." Mr Straw attempted to dismiss this denunciation as "formulaic" but the Iranian foreign minister took up the cudgels of the anti-western protesters at a press conference, with Mr Straw standing beside him. Mr Straw joined the denunciation of the American Christian fundamentalist, Jerry Falwell, who denounced the prophet Mohammed as a terrorist, paedophile and the son of the devil, saying he regarded the remarks as "outrageous". The Iranians drew no comfort from signs given to them privately that a consensus was emerging on a new set of UN resolutions, around the moderate French position, which requires a return of UN weapons inspectors before a further resolution mandating the use of force. A senior British official said last night: "On the one hand they hate Saddam intensely. On the other the west's assault on Iraq adds to their sense of encirclement." One Iranian foreign ministry official said a majority in the Iranian government were convinced war would happen and that President Saddam would fire off his missiles at Israel and western targets in Kuwait. He said: "Most of Iran would welcome the end of Saddam's regime and we do not feel that with Saddam gone we would be next on George Bush's list of regime change." Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
