U.S. could return diplomats to Iran

PARIS — The Bush administration is considering establishing an American diplomatic presence in Iran for the first time since relations were severed during the 444-day occupation of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran nearly three decades ago, European and U.S. officials said on Thursday.

The idea would be to open a so-called interests section, rather than a fully staffed embassy, with U.S. diplomats who could issue visas to Iranians seeking to visit the United States. But the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under diplomatic rules, cautioned that the idea had not been approved by the White House and could be delayed or blocked by opposition within the administration.

The proposal comes as the White House is adopting new tactics in dealing with Iran. With six months left in office, Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appear to be looking for new ways to reach out to the Iranian people as the administration tries to bring a peaceful resolution to the impasse over Iran's nuclear program.

On Saturday, William Burns, the State Department's third-ranking official, will arrive in Geneva to participate, along with European Union nations, in talks with Iran aimed at persuading it to suspend uranium enrichment in exchange for economic and political incentives.

The Bush administration appears to be changing course on Iran in its final shifting from its long-standing confrontational policy of isolating Iran in favor of a diplomatic approach that resembles the direction taken to get North Korea to give up its atomic arms.

Until the weekend meeting in Switzerland, the U.S. has insisted it would not speak with the Iranians until they end the suspect activities.

Iran, for its part, seems to have embraced the idea of a higher U.S. diplomatic presence.

"We welcome any move which would expand human relations," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on state television earlier this week.

There is a small interests section in Tehran administered by the Swiss, who represent U.S. interests in Iran. The Swiss do not have the authority to grant U.S. visas. Last week, Burns testified before Congress and was asked about the possibility of establishing an interest section. He seemed to suggest it was under consideration.

He said the idea "is an interesting one, and it's one that's worth looking at carefully."