Rushdie still unsafe, says Iranian press

“Any promise in this regard… is a personal interpretation and has nothing to do with the Islamic republic. There is no room for optimism by Rushdie and his supporters,” the paper said.

The Iran News, a moderate daily close to Kharrazi’s foreign ministry, said there was nothing new in his statement that his government disassociates itself from any reward… and does not support it.”

The paper pointed out that the government’s position has for several years been not to seek Rushdie’sdeath.

“The difference now was that Britain had decided that it was sufficient for normalisation of relations,” the newspaper said.

“Britain feels left out of lucrative business deals Iran has struck with other European countries.”

The Rushdie affair has been the main hurdle in Iran’s efforts to improve ties with the European Union. Britain has sought better ties in order to benefit from lucrative projects in Iran, which have gone to France and other European countries that have better ties with Tehran.

President Mohammad Khatami, a moderate cleric, has been trying to change Iran’s foreign policy ever since he became president in August 1997. Khatami has underscored the need to replace confrontation with dialogue in Iran’s relations with the West, including the United States.

But powerful hard-liners inside the Islamic regime have always supported the death sentence and are likely to continue to do so.

Although relieved at Iran’s announcement of distancing itself from the reward for his death,the 51-year-old Rushdie said he was still cautious since the fatwa was not lifted.

“I feel there is a small, continued need for caution but this can be dealt with without the colossal apparatus of state protection,” he said a day after Kharrazi’s announcement.