Iran presidential adviser offers conditions for dialogue with U.S.+

TOKYO, Jan. 24 Kyodo - A top adviser to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offered on Saturday a set of conditions for realizing direct dialogue with the United States.

Mojtaba Samareh-Hashemi said in an interview with Kyodo News in Tokyo that the
conditions are U.S. acceptance of Iran's nuclear development, U.S. military
withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, and halting its support for Israel.
On Tehran-Washington ties, he said, ''The former administration (of George W.
Bush) trampled on Iran's right to utilization of nuclear energy. If President
(Barack) Obama were to modify such a policy, Iran and the United States could
get closer.''
Samareh-Hashemi, in whom Ahmadinejad places utmost confidence and who is said
to support the current administration's hard-line stance, said he believes
Ahmadinejad ''will certainly run'' in the Iranian presidential election in
June.
After Obama was elected in early November, the Iranian president sent him a
congratulatory message expressing hope for a change in U.S. policy and behavior
in the Middle East. The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Iran
in 1980.
Concerning the sharp drop in crude oil prices, Samareh-Hashemi emphasized Iran
will not fall into economic turmoil, saying the government compiled its budget
plan on the supposition that the price would be $40 per barrel or less.
''We will be able to secure a sufficient budget through steps such as
eliminating waste,'' he said.
==Kyodo
2009-01-24 20:31:25