U.S. Gesture to Iran: 3-Month Alleviation in Sanctions

Iran Islamic Republic former President, Ali Eker Khasimi Rafsancani, said, in response to a question about how the U.S. decision will contribute to the dialogue, "I am not sure; however, the signals from the U.S. are positive."

U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said that the U.S. will work with the Iranian people in 2004 and will support those who are fighting for freedom while living under regimes of oppression. In an article he wrote for the New York Times, Powell said one of the President’s goals for this year is ‘a democratic and free Middle East’, noting that fighting terrorism is still the top priority. Powell did not touch upon U.S. relations with Germany and France which soured over the war in Iraq; however, he highlighted the increasing significance of Europe and said the enlargement of the E.U. and NATO was good news in terms of security.