Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., November 19, 2008 Cheshvan 21, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:13 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

U.S. fears opening Tehran mission will aid Ahmadinejad By Barak Ravid Tags: Israel News, Iran  Senior American officials fear that opening a U.S. interests section in Tehran could strengthen President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and help him win the presidential elections next June. Continuing controversy over whether or not to open a Tehran mission means the final decision will rest with the incoming Barack Obama administration. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns met a group of Israeli diplomats in Washington last week and told them of the argument over the interests section. Burns, who is likely to stay in his post in the Obama administration, is coordinating the changeover with Obama's people in the State Department. Burns said the strategy behind opening an American interests section in Tehran, known as "Poisoned Carrot," would enable the U.S. to make direct contact with the Iranian people and conduct a dialog with the moderate reformist public over the head of the radical regime. However, senior Washington officials believe that the move would signal an American weakness vis-a-vis Iran and even help Ahmadinejad win the elections by enabling him to claim that despite the sanctions he has not given in, while the U.S. "folded." Advertisement "The Americans have been told by too many officials the world over that opening an interests section in Tehran, as the last move of an outgoing administration, is not a good idea," a senior Jerusalem source said. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who visited Israel some two weeks ago, told Olmert, Barak and Livni that the decision on this issue would be passed on to the next administration. Burns told the Israeli diplomats that he was doubted it would be possible to impose more massive sanctions on Iran. Following the crisis in Georgia and the tension it caused between the United States and Russia, it would be very difficult to agree on a significant fourth round of sanctions in the Security Council, he said. Burns, who served as U.S. ambassador to Russia until a few months ago, said that any progress vis-a-vis Iran would be possible only with Moscow's cooperation. Related articles: MI chief: Dialog can halt Iranian nukes GA special report / Olmert: World must confront Iran's malevolence Syria and the Iranian path Bookmark to del.icio.us   Iran arrests blogger Hossein Derakhshan admitted to spying for Israel, claims Iranian Web site. Peace through sport Jewish and Arab youngsters are finding common ground through Hand in Hand.   1.   US Interest Section inIran 06:55  |  Roxy 18/11/08   2.   Right,Give them more Hostages 07:08  |  DK 18/11/08   3.   Bush bozos try to influence Obama foreign policy 09:04  |  Clickfool 18/11/08   4.   Last I read, Bush was Still-President 09:57  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/11/08   5.   "move would signal American weakness" 11:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/11/08   6.   Last I read, Bush was still-President 18:21  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/11/08   7.   Ben Jabo Ben Tize should be named as US ambassador in Tehran 20:31  |  Aounist 18/11/08   8.   CONTROL??? WHY USA HAS TO `EXPLAIN` EVERY THING TO ISRAEL? 21:10  |  JACKAL 18/11/08

Read & React MI Chief: U.S. can halt Iran nukes via dialogue Responses: 72 Report: Abbas asked Olmert to free Barghouti as goodwill gesture Responses: 60 Fayyad: Settlement building will destroy the peace process Responses: 63 Peres: Syria knows benefits of peace deal with Israel Responses: 49 More Headlines 20:06 Iran aims to launch nuclear plant in 2009 00:09 Settler rabbi: State of Israel is an enemy of the people 21:43 Israel outraged at UN remarks urging end to Gaza blockade 21:18 Iranian blogger who visited Israel arrested for spying 00:29 Alperon's sister: Whoever killed Ya'akov, the same will be done to his children 01:11 Peres' speech in U.K. disrupted by anti-Israel protesters 00:52 U.S. paper: War on terror must include war on terrorists' cash 23:18 Palestinian, Israeli kids find peace on basketball court 18:53 Abbas said to ask Olmert to free Barghouti as goodwill gesture 18:53 Report: Suspected Lebanon spy made frequent visits to Israel 18:53 MI Chief: U.S. can halt Iran nuclear program with dialogue 18:53 IDF Home Front links Ashdod up to rocket-warning system 18:53 Egyptian court bans natural gas exports to Israel 19:44 Haredi man jailed for causing death of infant son 18:53 Israeli diamond trader murdered in Johannesburg 18:53 Palestinian PM: Settlement building will destroy peace process Previous Editions Select Day 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 10 nov 09 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov

Special Offers Advertisement Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Dan Boutique Jerusalem New Dan Hotel in Jerusalem Young, Fun & Distinctively Dan Book Now Online! Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Car rental in Israel Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates. Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved