Russia pleased as U.S. backs Iran against Iraq

WASHINGTON -- The United States has determined that Iraq is a lot more dangerous than Iran.

The U.S. decision to ease sanctions on Iran and apologize for U.S. support of the Shah was clearly aimed at Iraq. Officials said the Clinton administration has determined that Iran should be used in an effort to curb the ambitions of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

"Both our countries have fought conflicts initiated by Iraq's lawless regime. Both have a stake in preventing further Iraqi aggression," U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said.

Later, Ms. Albright said Washington was not planning an alliance against Saddam. "What I was saying was that, basically, we have a number of policy or national interest goals that happen to be in common," she said. "We are concerned about Afghanistan, and would like to see a moderate Afghanistan. We want to see the free flow of oil in the Gulf. We're concerned about narco-trafficking. Those are kinds of issues that two countries -- that actually had a relationship -- would have something in common."

For Russia, this was welcome news. Russian officials said they hoped the U.S. rapproachment with Iran would ease administration sanctions on Moscow's transfer of missile and nuclear technology to Teheran.

"We expect that this decision of the U.S. administration will be a first step, and it would be followed by further practical acts that would allow one to get rid of the confrontational legacy of the past in the American-Iranian relations," a Russian government statement said.

The statement said this concerned the sanctions imposed on Russian companies for providing technology to Iran. The government pointed to the signing this week by President Bill Clinton of a new law that would expand his powers to sanction Russian companies and government institutions.

Ms. Albright announced a series of measures to help launch a reconciliation dialogue with Iran.

Ms. Albright said Americans will be able to "purchase and import carpets and food products such as dried fruits, nuts and caviar from Iran. This step is a logical extension of the adjustments we made last year. It is also designed to show the millions of Iranian craftsmen, farmers and fishermen who work in these industries, and the Iranian people as a whole, that the United States bears them no ill will."

In addition, "the United States will explore ways to remove unnecessary impediments to increased contacts between American and Iranian scholars, professionals, artists, athletes and nongovernmental organizations. We believe this will serve to deepen bonds of mutual understanding and trust."

The secretary also said the United States is prepared to "increase efforts with Iran aimed at eventually concluding a global settlement of outstanding legal claims between our two countries."

The administration also apologized for the U.S. support for the 1953 coup of then-Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh as well as support for the Shah's regime.

"Although it did much to develop the country economically, the shah's government also brutally repressed political dissent," she said. "Even in more recent years, aspects of US policy toward Iraq during its conflict with Iran appear now to have been regrettably shortsighted, especially in light of our subsequent experiences with Saddam Hussein."