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Journalism of Courage
Despite a quarter-century of tension with Iran, the United States has reached out to the Islamic Republic for help in the post-war reconstruction of Iraq 8212; and is getting it, according to US and Iranian officials.
Iran is already offering to provide water, electricity and technical assistance to Iraq, a top Iranian diplomat said Friday.
Iran is supportive of Iraq8217;s US-appointed Governing Council, and Washington, which severed ties with Iran in 1980, hopes Tehran will 8216;8216;step up to the plate big time8217;8217; in pledging reconstruction funds, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage told a House Appropriations subcommittee last week. 8216;8216;On the question of Iran, as much trouble as we have on the nuclear question, we have a slightly different relationship with them on the question of Iraq. They have welcomed the Governing Council,8217;8217; Armitage told the panel. 8216;8216;They will participate in the donor conference,8217;8217; he said.
But deep divisions remain within the Bush administration about Iran policy. They were underscored when Pentagon officials met for the first time with the grandson of Iran8217;s revolutionary leader, late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who advocates US support for regime change in Iran. Ayatollah Hossein Khomeini is calling on the administration to mobilise opposition to the 8216;8216;ruthless dictatorship8217;8217; that his grandfather led to power when the Shah was ousted in 1979. 8212;LAT-WP
