|
News & Views Iran may extradite US rape suspect CAIRO, Egypt, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Iran has offered to extradite a U.S. citizen charged with rape in the United States in what would mark the first law enforcement cooperation between the two countries in two decades. A U.S. law enforcement official in Cairo says today Iranian officials made the offer through Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, of which both countries are members. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the offer was made last month and is under consideration by the U.S. State Department. ``We're waiting for the State Department to respond,'' he added. He gave no details about the suspect or the circumstances of the alleged rape. Iran's offer is the latest sign that relations between Washington and Tehran, frozen since the 1979 Iranian revolution, may be thawing. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, has called for dialogue and understanding between the two countries and has expressed regret for the hurt caused to Americans when the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was stormed in 1979. The incident, in which 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days, captured world attention. More recently, the U.S. government announced it would pay almost $62 million to the families of 248 Iranians killed when the U.S. military shot down an Iran Air passenger plane in 1988. But relations remain strained between the two countries, particularly in the field of security. Of particular concern to the United States are Tehran's efforts to expand its production of long-range missiles and chemical weapons, along with its recent purchases of some conventional weaponry. Iran also opposes the Middle East peace process. Some analysts believe there is a schism between Khatami and Iran's hard-line religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in commencing a dialogue with the United States. But today, the U.S. official suggested Iran's extradition offer may open up other possibilities for future law enforcement cooperation between the two countries. For example, he said, Iran has been very aggressive in cracking down on drug trafficking from Afghanistan. Links * Iran News
|
Copyright © 1997 Abadan Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved. May not be duplicated or distributed in any form
Web Site Design by |
Internet server by |
