In a bid that reflects the Iranian President’s true statesmanship spirit, he has proposed readiness to hold one-to-one level talks with the American president George Bush. These talks may hold key to the deadlock that has arisen due to the long existing nuclear issue between the two countries. However, it is not clear as of now whether President Bush even plans to accept this offer or not.
The Iranian offer
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying on the website of Al-Alam, Iran’s state-run Arabic satellite television channel as:
Last year, I announced readiness for a televised debate over global issues with his excellency Mr. Bush. And now we announce that I am ready to negotiate with him about bilateral issues as well as regional and international issues
The Iranian President did not specify whether these talks include the nuclear debate or not. Nevertheless, he did assert that all talks must be public, and to be held in the presence of the media.
The US take
The US take on this offer remains stand-offish as of now. The Bush administration said Iran must abandon any nuclear weapon ambitions before talks could ever be held.
Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council at the White House, said Monday:
Instead of offering televised debates or a media spectacle, the United States has offered actual discussions if Iran would only agree to what the international community has asked for repeatedly: stop uranium enrichment and reprocessing. We’re ready whenever they are.
The US is unlikely to launch military attack on us: Ahmadinejad
Ahmadinejad told Al-Alam that he thought the U.S. was ‘unlikely’ to use military force against Iran because of the dispute over the nuclear program. U.S. officials have said Washington has no plans to attack Iran.
It is unlikely that such a will exists in the United States. I think there are enough wise people in the U.S. administration to prevent such a decision
The President further stressed that this is because a military attack would be an inherently flawed approach to the whole issue, and hopefully the US know it.
If some think that by resorting to threats they (can) change the world in favor of themselves, they are wrong
Chances for the talks working out
While the proposal of talks is a positive development, it is likely that the result is the same as last year i.e. The talks don’t end up taking place. The few hurdles that may obstruct developments are:
a) The Bush administration has asserted time and again that they will not hold any talks with Iran unless the latter gives up all its nuclear ambitions, something which Iran is all out against NOT doing
b) Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all state matters, has regularly rejected any direct talks between Tehran and Washington because of what he calls U.S. “bullying” of Iran. It is not known whether he will support Ahmadinejad’s offer this time or not.
Keeping all these in mind, it is hard to say whether the talks would come through or not. However, chances of a military attack by the US look increasingly bleak due to the growing international support for the Iranian cause. Also, the US has its hands quite full.
Via: USA Today
