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Secret US-Iran Nuclear Talks
CAIRO — Former US diplomats and experts have been engaged in secret talks with Iranian academics and policy advisers over Tehran's nuclear program and frozen diplomatic relations between their countries.
"We discussed what's going on domestically in both countries and wide-ranging issues affecting the US-Iran relationship," former US undersecretary of state Thomas Pickering told The Independent on Monday, April 14.
"Some of the Iranians were connected to official institutions inside Iran," said Pickering, himself a participant.
The meetings, held in different places outside the US and Iran, were organized by the UN Association of the USA, a pro-UN organization, and facilitated by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a government-funded think-tank.
Pickering said none of the participants were from the US or the Iranian governments.
"[But] each side kept their officials informed."
The Bush administration "did not discourage us," said Pickering, declining to go into greater detail for fear of jeopardizing future meetings.
The US has been imposing unilateral sanctions against Iran since 1979 when it severed its ties with Tehran after angry students stormed and took over the US embassy.
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"Some of the Iranians were connected to official institutions inside Iran," said Pickering, himself a participant.
The meetings, held in different places outside the US and Iran, were organized by the UN Association of the USA, a pro-UN organization, and facilitated by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a government-funded think-tank.
Pickering said none of the participants were from the US or the Iranian governments.
"[But] each side kept their officials informed."
The Bush administration "did not discourage us," said Pickering, declining to go into greater detail for fear of jeopardizing future meetings.
The US has been imposing unilateral sanctions against Iran since 1979 when it severed its ties with Tehran after angry students stormed and took over the US embassy.
More
For more information:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satelli...
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