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Question: Iran. There was a story today in USA Today, actually, saying that the U.S. was weighing ways to reward the Iranian people and especially the reformers who were elected for their votes and there were several options listed. I am wondering if you can tell us if that's correct. Mr. Rubin: Well, clearly the elections in Iran are historic. The final results are not in. The Iranian people have, however, demonstrated a powerful desire for change. They have called for freedom and the rule of law in their own country and openness and engagement with the rest of the world. We welcome this development and applaud Iran's effort to further institutionalize democracy in that country. At this point, there are many questions about what this election might mean for Iranian foreign and domestic policy. It is clear that the new parliament will enjoy a decisive popular mandate. It is our hope that this mandate will set Iran on a course towards a more constructive and a new role in the region, one which eventually leads to Iran's full political and economic reintegration into the international community. The Middle East is changing rapidly, and Iran certainly has a role to play. For our part, we would like to see a change in specific policies of concern. They relate to Iran's attitude towards the Middle East peace process, they relate to the seeking of weapons of mass destruction and the support for terrorism. Those are the kinds of issues that are of particular concern to us. It will be some time before the popular will expressed in these elections will be translated into concrete policies. For example, the runoff will take several weeks and then their new parliament won't take office until several weeks after that. We will follow these developments very closely and make any appropriate responses based on what we think will best promote the prospect for dealing with our concerns and dealing with Iran's potential role in the Middle East. Question: You don't want to say specifically what kinds of things you think-- Mr. Rubin: I certainly don't make it a practice of speculating on what we might do. Question: Well, no, I mean--but as--all right. Mr. Rubin: Yes. Question: Does that mean you have no response Khatami's brother, who was a leader of one of the pro-reform parties who suggested that the U.S. stop engaging only in words and engage in actions as well, including the lifting of sanctions against Iran? Mr. Rubin: Well, all I can say to that is that we have been prepared to have a dialogue with Iran in which we could lay out our concerns and they could lay out their concerns, a dialogue based on mutual respect between our two countries. And if they have issues of concern, they can bring those to the table; if we have issues of concern, we can bring those to the table. That is our view and, at this point, we have taken a number of steps in recent years to try to signal our willingness to try to engage Iran. Secretary Albright indicated a willingness to develop a road map to normal relations, but at this time I'm not going to speculate as to what we might do, especially in light of the fact that there are some weeks before the runoff elections and some weeks after that before the new power arrangements would be developed as a result of the seating of the new parliament. [end of excerpt] Full transcript of Daily Press Briefing on 2/22/00
Iran Remarks | Near Eastern Affairs | Department of State | Secretary of State |
