Wednesday
Feb042009
Update: Secret US-Iran Talks This Week?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 9:11
Last Saturday, we broke the story of possible US-Iran secret talks this week, in connection with the American meeting in Berlin today with Russia, China, and the EU-3 (Britain, France, and Germany).
Over the last few days, news outlets have been catching up with the revelations that US and Iranian representatives, some of whom are now in the Obama and Ahmadinejad Administrations, were involved in non-governmental meetings in 2008. The most significant new name to emerge was Gary Samore, who will soon become President Obama's advisor on non-proliferation.
The question is not whether Biden meets an Iranian official --- that is too high-profile to be a possibility. Instead, will any of the American officials who are in Berlin make the short hop to Munich for a bit of private time with any Iranians who happen to be there?
Over the last few days, news outlets have been catching up with the revelations that US and Iranian representatives, some of whom are now in the Obama and Ahmadinejad Administrations, were involved in non-governmental meetings in 2008. The most significant new name to emerge was Gary Samore, who will soon become President Obama's advisor on non-proliferation.
The question remains, however: will "engagement", especially with the prospect that the US needs Iranian assistance for the "surge" in Afghanistan, lead to a meeting in early 2009? The latest teaser is in an article in The Asia Times:
Eyes...now turn...toward Germany where the 45th Munich Conference on Security Policy is scheduled to take place next weekend. Organizers of the annual event revealed on Thursday that among the 300 prominent figures from the international arena of foreign, security and defense policy will be a "very high-ranking personality" from Tehran.
Other VIPs include US Vice President Joseph Biden, who is expected to make a major foreign and security policy speech.
The question is not whether Biden meets an Iranian official --- that is too high-profile to be a possibility. Instead, will any of the American officials who are in Berlin make the short hop to Munich for a bit of private time with any Iranians who happen to be there?