'Positive interest' by US for Iran talks

TEHRAN , Arch-foe Washington is showing "positive interest" in high-profile dialogue with Tehran, but just how serious it is will be seen in Iran's next round of talks with world powers, a top aide of President Mahmoud AhmadinejadMahmoud Ahmadinejad told AFP.

Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, whose appointment as Ahmadinejad's first deputy was terminated after a fiery row over his perceived pro-Israeli remarks, said the United States was beginning to show "change" towards Iran under the presidency of Barack ObamaBarack Obama but questions over its seriousness remain.

Rahim Mashaie, in a wide-ranging interview with AFP, also said Tehran's atomic programme is an issue which unites all political groups in Iran, including Ahmadinejad's political rivals.

"Everyone saw that the Americans showed more positive interest to engage and participate during the talks (in Geneva). That was evident and we hope that we continue on the same path," said Rahim Mashaie, chief of staff in the president's office.

"The engagement of the US in the negotiation can be interpreted as a positive development, but we have to see what happens in the next negotiations and how serious the Americans are."

Iran and six world powers -- Britain, France, Russia, China, Germany and the United States -- are to meet at the end of the month for a second round of talks aimed at allaying Western concerns over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Iranian and US officials held their first direct bilateral talks in 30 years on the sidelines of the first meeting, which took place in Geneva on October 1.

Iran at the Geneva talks agreed to throw open its newly disclosed second uranium enrichment plant for UN inspection and also to buy enriched uranium of 20 percent purity from abroad as fuel for a reactor in Tehran.

Global leaders have largely expressed optimism after the Geneva dialogue -- the first in 15 months -- although Obama has warned Iran to continue with "swift action" or face increased pressure.

Rahim Mashaie said the next round of dialogue is expected to be fruitful.

"We hope we will reach more understanding on the common points. The negotiations will focus on common agendas," he said, insisting that Tehran would discuss the issue as per its package of proposals given to world powers prior to Geneva talks.

The package does not speak of Tehran's own nuclear programme, especially its controversial uranium enrichment process.

Iran is under three sets of UN sanctions, slapped for its defiant continuation of enriching uranium, which can be used as fuel for nuclear reactors or as fissile core of an atom bomb.

Rahim Mashaie said the nuclear issue is "now better understood and is a good opportunity" for Washington to express its "honesty towards Iran."

"There is a pessimistic view regarding the US in Iran given the past history. We feel change is beginning to happen, but we have to wait to see if it is serious," said the aide, who is also a close relative of Ahmadinejad.

He said Washington had realised that Iran is the "most important country in the most important region of the world."

"They have no other option but to accept it. The issues in the region would not reach adequate solution without Iran's participation."

The controversial nuclear issue, according to Rahim Mashaie, is something that unites all Iranians, including Ahmadinejad's election rivals.

"Those who voted for Ahmadinejad, who are the majority, and those who voted for other candidates are united on the nuclear issue and nuclear right. Iran will never give up its (nuclear) right in any case," he said.

Last year Rahim Mashaie angered Iranian hardliners after he said that "Iran was friend of Israeli people."

He clarified to AFP that his view on Israel was similar to the official stance of the Islamic republic, which does not recognise the existence of the Jewish state.

"Israel is an illegitimate entity ... if they want to create a country for the Jews, they can do it somewhere else," said the softly-spoken official.

He said Tehran had no military plans against Israel as the "people of Palestine have to decide their future."

"But at the same time, we don't believe in threats made by Israel because we don't think that this regime has the ability to carry them out."

Rahim Mashaie also said that Obama is now under increased pressure after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

To many in Iran and other parts of the world, he said, the decision to award the prize to Obama was purely an act of "propaganda," although he personally felt it was a "positive" move.

"Mr. Obama himself wrote in his book ("Audacity of Hope") that they don't give the prize to those who speak the truth," Rahim Mashaie said showing the Persian edition of Obama's bestseller.

"He has been given the award because he says he wants to change past policies. But all these things will raise the expectations of the world to see real change and this increases the responsibility of Obama," he said.

"If he fails, the cost will be very high for the world and for the US."