In pursuing Iran talks, US downplays Ahmadinejad role
AFP
29-Jun-2009

The United States on Sunday reiterated its intent to continue discussions with Tehran over its nuclear program but downplayed any role that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would have in formulating policy. "Whatever Mr Ahmadinejad says, everyone understands that in Iran, he is not the person who makes decisions on foreign policy, on defense policy," senior White House adviser David Axelrod told the ABC show "This Week." The arbiter on policy in the Islamic republic is its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who Washington has openly hinted was the ultimate target of US engagement policies. Axelrod's comments -- and those of Washington's ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice -- come a day after Ahmadinejad again slammed US President Barack Obama for "interfering" in Iran, as debate raged over the Iranian president's disputed re-election.

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