Iranian call to start negotiations with US get serious

The current controversy in Iran over opening channels for negotiations with the US brought about two important events.

A university professor at the University of Tehran, Sadek Zeba, defended Iranian interests in restoring the relations with the USA. The Iyat (Verses) newspaper published Zeba's statements over the US-Iranian relations.

Zeba lauded the statements of Iranian President Mohammed Khatami and deemed them a declaration of respect toward the US, which means that relations with Washington are no longer looked upon as treason. It had also become unacceptable to burn or kick the US flag, as it is a symbol of the American people.

The second event is that for the second time in less than a week, the pro-government newspaper "Islam" has broken all traditions and customs by tackling US-Iranian relations, as it entrusted the future of those relations to the public opinion to decide whether restoring those relations will serve Iranian interests or not.