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Last update - 12:03 17/07/2008
Report: U.S. to station diplomats in Iran for first time since 1979
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press
Tags: Iran, U.S., nuclear program 

The United States intends to station diplomats in Iran for the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution which saw a severence of ties between the two countries, The Guardian reported on Thursday.

The move would be a step in the direction of setting up a full embassy in Iran, a dramatic political shift for the Bush administration, which has spent the last few years guiding international pressure on Tehran over its contentious nuclear program.

The Guardian report comes a day after the U.S. announced plans to send a senior envoy to meet with a senior Iranian representative to discuss Iran's nuclear program, an announcement met with concern in Israel.
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"There is a bad feeling in Israel and dissatisfaction with the U.S. move," Israel told senior Washington officials, according to a source in Jerusalem. "There can be no concession on the demand to end uranium enrichment as a precondition to negotiating with Iran," Israel added.

UN Security Council members, Germany and the European Union have been holding regular meetings with Iranian representatives, and U.S. Under Secretary of State William Burns, considered No. 3 in the State Department, will be participating for the first time.

The U.S. informed Israel of its plans to send Burns to the talks, emphasizing that this is a one-time meeting and not a change in policy.

The source said the Americans considered the talks "feelers" to test whether it should be speaking with Iran.

The U.S. also claims it is sending an envoy to the talks because it "doesn't trust" the reports from EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, the liaison with the Iranians. The Americans said Solana "pulls the wool over our eyes," according to the source in Jerusalem.

Israel emphasized to the U.S. that "there is great importance in maintaining the international demand to suspend uranium enrichment, as mandated by the UN resolution, as a precondition to entering negotiations with Iran. We believe there can be no concession on this demand," the source said. The Americans responded that "the condition remains."

Iranian FM in Syria for talks with Assad
Iran's foreign minister arrived in Damascus on Thursday for talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that will likely cover Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

Manouchehr Mottaki said on arrival Thursday that he'll discuss the latest Mideast developments with Assad.

But the two are also expected to discuss a request by the French president that Assad help persuade Tehran to cooperate with the international community over its nuclear ambitions.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy met Assad at a Euro-Med summit last weekend in Paris. Assad promised to relay the request from France to Tehran.

Syria and Iran are close allies, but Assad has expressed doubt that his intervention can help in a fierce standoff between Iran and the West.

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      1.   Its considered to be a one off meeting. 03:27  |  Stephen. 17/07/08
      2.   what`s wrong with talking to iran? 03:57  |  bashar 17/07/08
      3.   The WH took all of the Knesset for a ride. 06:20  |  Dwido 17/07/08
      4.   Nonsensical 06:52  |  Natallie Durson 17/07/08
      5.   The Best Idea Why USA Should Stop Them 06:59  |  Yosemite 17/07/08
      6.   Talk with Iran 07:25  |  James Richardson 17/07/08
      7.   Finally 07:30  |  kal 17/07/08
      8.   Israeli Chutzpah 07:39  |  Jack Olson 17/07/08
      9.   @ Yosemite 08:12  |  Captain Obvious 17/07/08
      10.   Orders from Tel Aviv? 08:17  |  Bill 17/07/08
      11.   US ECONOMY STOPS ISRAEL 08:29  |  Arik Silverman 17/07/08
      12.   OBAMA`S POLICY IS BEGINNING TO TAKE CHARGE 09:02  |  indrajaya 17/07/08
      13.   Worse yet for Israel 09:25  |  Clickfool 17/07/08
      14.   Bill do you mind when Israel takes orders from USA? 09:45  |  x-ray 17/07/08
      15.   As usual it is up to Israel to save the world AGAIN 10:05  |  Ivor Dwatt 17/07/08
      16.   Israel`s concern about US talks with Iran 10:30  |  Richard Young 17/07/08
      17.   #9 Bill..its orders from the AIPAC 11:31  |  maoriboy 17/07/08
      18.   USA and Israel relationship rapidly deteriorating 11:53  |  Rami 17/07/08
      19.   Latest News 12:03  |  Yosemite 17/07/08
      20.   Israel has surrendered to Hezbollah and expects US to stand up to 12:06  |  Absolute Sweden 17/07/08
      21.   11 Arik Silverman completely correct. 12:08  |  Michael 17/07/08
      22.   The birth of a winning strategy 12:12  |  Natallie Durson 17/07/08
      23.   Good ! Dialog is always good 12:21  |  mehmet 17/07/08
      24.   What I`m Guessing... 12:23  |  Yosemite 17/07/08
      25.   Good Point 12:24  |  Sam 17/07/08
      26.   # 15 ivor 12:50  |  Axel 17/07/08
      27.   I knew it! 12:52  |  Persian Hero 17/07/08
      28.   LOSS OF THE WAR ON TERROR = THE U.S. HAS LOST AGAIN 13:04  |  THE END OF AN EMPIRE 17/07/08
      29.   The WH has a sudden attack of sanity 13:07  |  Aphemia 17/07/08
      30.   Thanks God that OUR US Administration is showing 13:21  |  GUS 17/07/08
      31.   Talking is far better than making costly WARS 13:25  |  Ghulam 17/07/08
      32.   #5. Yosemite. U R talking BS. 13:42  |  Harrison 17/07/08
      33.   israel, you better put america to its place 13:42  |  the right place 17/07/08
      34.   Good Point 13:43  |  Sam 17/07/08
      35.   #14 .x-ray Pl. explain 13:54  |  Will 17/07/08
      36.   Europe was a key but better the US engage 13:54  |  Ronnie Wolman 17/07/08
      37.   Israel should talk to Iran 14:00  |  MiddleStanian 17/07/08
      38.   USA 14:03  |  zznhl 17/07/08
      39.   How dare USA talk to Iran without our permission. 14:10  |  Ari Masters. 17/07/08
      40.   Where are those who said `Never Again` !? 14:12  |  Akram Zekaria 17/07/08
      41.   # 36, ARI MASTERS 14:19  |  Indrajaya 17/07/08
      42.   Good News for Israel 14:31  |  The Equalizer 17/07/08
      43.   Clickfool, Indrajaya, Durson ALL EMBARRESED 14:41  |  Ruth 17/07/08
      44.   Cowing to Islamist-Jihadist Fanatics 14:47  |  Brod 17/07/08
      45.   If Israel feels it stands alone, it`s enemies should worry most. 14:47  |  Marco 17/07/08
      46.   Richard Young 14:50  |  Dan 17/07/08
      47.   #8 - the Chutzpan 14:53  |  Jeff 17/07/08
      48.   While US appears to want "talks" Israel prepares to attack 14:55  |  Genuine Tosefta 17/07/08
      49.   BUSH IS A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 14:58  |  THE TRUTH HURTS 17/07/08
      50.   Worse analysis by Clickfool 15:12  |  utagawa 17/07/08
      51.   Will washington 15:13  |  x-ray 17/07/08
      52.   Israel`s concern about U.S. Diplomacy 15:13  |  Robyn Sparacio 17/07/08
      53.   common george and aristocratic george 15:14  |  o 17/07/08
      54.   #45 GT 15:20  |  Axel 17/07/08
      55.   Robyn Sparacio:Difference Between N Korea and Iran 15:30  |  Ronnie Wolman 17/07/08
      56.   Israel Chutzpah 15:31  |  Robyn 17/07/08
      57.   Where that leaves the "The Road Map" ?! 15:32  |  Akram Zekaria 17/07/08
      58.   #16 - Huh? 15:44  |  Jeff 17/07/08
      59.   Another view 15:45  |  Ariel 17/07/08
      60.   Paranoid & Angry 15:48  |  Sherri 17/07/08
      61.   Nuclear Iran. 15:51  |  Jean Van Daem 17/07/08
      62.   Nuclear Iran. 15:52  |  Jean Van Daem 17/07/08
      63.   YES, WE SHOULD WORRY AND 16:00  |  Robert 17/07/08
      64.   Good for America...Bad for Israel 16:08  |  dan 17/07/08
      65.   Stupid move that will lead to disaster 16:15  |  Brod 17/07/08
      66.   A few points... 16:17  |  Proud American Jew 17/07/08
      67.   # 50 x-ray 16:20  |  Axel 17/07/08
      68.   Israel opposes US-IRAN-MIDDLEEAST-WORDPEACE 16:20  |  Historian 17/07/08
      69.   5, Yosemite 16:24  |  Harry 17/07/08
      70.   It takes 30 years for an intelligent decision 16:31  |  kaled 17/07/08
      71.   The Bush Double-Standard: I talk to enemies, Is