Khatami speaks on US-Iranian relations

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said he would like to renew US- Iranian contacts, but not at the governmental level that the USA is calling for. Khatami said that the exchange should include scholars, artists and tourists.

In an interview conducted by CNN, the Iranian president touched on the need for understanding between the two countries. He did not make a call for official contact with the US, and criticized US foreign policy saying "one of the major flaws of the US policy is that it is a prisoner of cold war mentality."

He said that the US is alone in its approach towards Iran and that the Europeans are more advanced in their approach and foreign policy towards Iran. Khatami said that because of the recent international developments, "we can reach our objectives without the need for the US."

Reflecting on the isolation forced on it by the US, the president said that it had negative and positive effects. He said the one of the positive effects was that the US policy forced Iran to look inward, and become more self sufficient.

Khatami said that Iran does not support terrorism, a charge the US constantly levels against Iran. He said that Islam does not approve of the killing of innocent civilians, but that support for liberation struggles is legitimate.

Khatami hinted at internal conflict in Iranian foreign policy saying that it is normal in a democracy to have different points of view. He added that, referring to the other internal factions, they will not be allowed to circumvent the constitution, stressing that he wants to see the rule of law applied internally and in Iranian relations with other nations.