Reuters Tuesday March 14 2000
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States might make an announcement this week on trade sanctions with Iran, White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said on Tuesday.
``There may be an announcement later this week but I'm not going to announce anything today,'' Lockhart said.
He was responding to a report in the newspaper USA Today that the United States planned to announce on Friday that it is easing a ban on non-energy imports from Iran.
USA Today said Washington would lift the ban on imports of Iran's three main non-oil exports -- carpets, pistachios and caviar -- as a goodwill gesture to the reformers who won last month's parliamentary elections in Iran.
The Los Angeles Times carried a similar report last week, without setting Friday as the date for an announcement.
Lockhart refused to answer questions on what sort of announcement could be expected.
``As we have said, obviously there are some positive results from the recent elections there. We are looking and considering ways to encourage a constructive dialogue,'' he said.
USA Today said Secretary of State Madeleine Albright or a senior State Department official would announce the move at a meeting in Washington on Friday sponsored by the American- Iranian Council. It said Iran's ambassador to the United Nations had been invited to attend.
A State Department official said: ``A senior administration official will address the conference (on Friday).'' She declined to say who it would be.
``There are important changes taking place in Iran. We are considering ways to respond,'' the official added.
The United States has been trying for years to open a dialogue with the Iranian government, which has repeatedly rebuffed U.S. overtures. The reformist victory offers the best chance in years for better relations, U.S. officials say.
The State Department official: ``We believe that it is important to address the issues of concern to Iran and the U.S., and we believe the best way to do that is directly.''
She noted that President Clinton on Monday extended a ban on U.S. investment in Iranian energy projects but also referred to the U.S. decision last year to allow sales of U.S. food and medical products to Iran.
``Sanctions can be modified at any time, as was the case last year when we amended our global sanctions to exempt agricultural and medical supplies,'' she said.
Washington banned the non-oil imports from Iran after the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979.
President Clinton, explaining his decision to extend the ban on energy investments in Iran, said on Monday that Tehran continued to support ``international terrorism'' and undermine Middle East peace talks.
``The actions and policies of the government of Iran continue to threaten the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States,'' he added.
The statement sparked sharp reaction from Tehran, which cited the move as an example of double standards, given recent conciliatory remarks by U.S. officials.
LINKS ABOUT THE UNILATERAL US SANCTIONS ON IRAN:
U.S. Sanctions Sting U.S. Businesses More Christian Science Monitor, March 28 1997
Repairing US- Iran Relations by RAND analyst Graham E. Fuller, Mideast Policy Oct. 1998