Ready for dialogue with US, says former Iranian president

Iran is ready for dialogue with the United States despite the belligerent rhetoric of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to his predecessor in office, Mohammed Khatami. "If there is a new crisis in the Middle East, Iran will suffer but everyone [else] will also suffer, including the US," Khatami told the Eurasia Media Forum in Almaty on Apr. 19. "Today there is a readiness [in Iran for dialogue] but you should pressure [the US] government to resolve issues through negotiation if there is a good will." Khatami, seen as the leader of the so-called moderate front in Iran, backed his country's president saying Iran has "no intention" of developing nuclear weapons. He added, however, that threats by the US administration of military strikes could only complicate an already delicate situation. "I can tell you very clearly that developing nuclear weapons does not exist in Iran's military doctrine," said Khatami. "We are part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT] and reaching an objective guarantee [that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons] is possible and we have the solutions to offer." Khatami said Iran's oil resources are shrinking and it would be irresponsible for the Tehran government not to look at alternative energy sources. Iran, he said, has "every right" to have access to peaceful nuclear technology. "There is a double standard in this issue. There are many countries that are not even part of the NPT and have hundreds of warheads and then there is one country that is a member of the NPT and wants nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and you are objecting," he said. Trying to take the middle ground between the Iranian and US positions, former Russian foreign minister Yevgeni Primakov said while he does not believe Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, it is not handling the issue diplomatically well either. "There are a couple of dozen countries enriching uranium, and to say that Iran cannot do it is wrong. After all, what are they going to do with a nuclear bomb? Attack Israel? That would destroy all of Palestine as well," he said, to the laughter of Khatami and others on the panel. Russia has had a role in Iran's nuclear ambitions. Much to the chagrin of Washington, Moscow has agreed to provide Iran with much of the technology it needs. But at the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country is opposed to Iran getting access to nuclear weapons technology. Many experts have said that giving Iran the uranium enrichment capability would be tantamount to passing on skills to build a bomb. Primakov said Russia was against any use of military force against Iran.