**US prepared to negotiate with Iran **
Mark Tran and agencies
Wednesday May 31, 2006
The US today deviated from its hard line on Iran by declaring its readiness to take part in talks if Tehran stopped enriching uranium.
Although the offer of negotiations came with preconditions that are unlikely to be accepted by Iran, it was the first sign of give from Washington. Tehran yesterday said it was ready for talks with the US, but without preconditions.
The US has had no formal contact with the Iranian government since students in Tehran took 52 Americans hostage in 1979.
Until now, the Bush administration has refused to enter direct negotiations with Iran over its nuclear activities. Instead, it has preferred to stay on the sidelines and let Germany, France and Britain do the diplomatic donkey work.
“To underscore our commitment to a diplomatic solution and to enhance prospects for success, as soon as Iran fully and verifiably suspends its enrichment and reprocessing activities, the United States will come to the table,” the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, said in Washington.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,1786990,00.html
Do you think Iran should enter into direct talks with USA? or should they let EU continue to mediate the talks? Personally, i think direct talks is not a good plan at all, especially not where america is concerned, because 1) you can tell straight off america’s intention are not sincere (read the underlined), hence directs talk are most likely to be a failure. 2) with mediation, atleast there is more than one country involved, that way any plans for america to play PR games like they did at camp david (i.e. put forth ridiculous conditions, blame Iran for the talks failing, then go on to ask for sanctions as talks have failed), can be thwarted. im not saying EU is any better, but atleast it wont be unilateral thing and should america go off on one (reason: screw lose), hopefully the EU can reign it in…