[IsraelTimes] The US and Iran reportedly held secret talks to potentially renew diplomatic ties if a nuclear deal between world powers and Tehran to curb Iran's atomic program is reached and sanctions are lifted.The talks focused on the opening of a US trade office in Tehran, according to a report in the London Times, which means that the two countries were set renew relations for the first time in 35 years.
Iranian officials cited by the paper said talks on the matter were set to resume in Baku, Azerbaijan this week and would be led by Mohammad Reza Sabzalipour, the head of Iran's global trade bureau.
'Talks have been on and off for some time between very select teams, in parallel to the nuclear negotiations. They are making progress towards some deeper level agreements,' an Iranian government adviser was quoted by the paper as saying.
The report indicated that if 'a deal is reached and a schedule agreed for lifting economic sanctions, the Iranian government would welcome a limited expansion of America's diplomatic presence in Tehran.' The paper did not cite the source of this condition.
'One possibility is an umbrella office for US trade. An alternative is a cultural office, purely for academic exchanges,' he said. 'There is a real desire among moderates to bring US business and investment back to Iran.'
In 1979, ties between the US and Iran came to a halt after Iranian students supportive of the Islamic Revolution stormed the US embassy in Tehran and held its staff hostage for over 400 days. The attack set off a major diplomatic crisis which ended with the severing of ties.
The Swiss embassy has represented US interests in Iran since then, and, according to the report, its role may be expanded to fulfill the role of a trade office for the American government.
The US State Department swiftly denied the report on the possible resumption of ties.
'I can assure you that there are no such trade talks involving US government officials, that we are not considering opening a trade office, and that we have had no conversations . . . with [Mr Sabzalipour],' a US official was quoted by the paper as saying.