http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/April/middleeast_April489.xml§ion=middleeastWASHINGTON - A close aide to Iran’s top nuclear official is visiting archfoe the United States -- at the height of a showdown between the West and Teheran over its controversial nuclear programme.
The US State Department confirmed on Monday that Mohammad Nahavandian, an economics and technology aide to Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, was in town, but would not say how he got into the country or what he was doing.
“He’s not here for meetings with US government officials to my knowledge; certainly not with members of the State Department,” spokesman Sean McCormack said. snip
The Financial Times quoted an Iranian adviser as saying Nahavandian had come here to discuss the possibility of wide-ranging direct talks between the two countries, which have not had diplomatic relations for a quarter-century.