Israel Concerned U.S. May Open Interests Section In Iran

[Purveyor]

The question of whether the United States will open an interests section in Tehran will be decided by President George W. Bush himself in the coming month, senior government officials said yesterday in Jerusalem.

Israel is following with concern the going discussions in the U.S. administration over the opening of a diplomatic interests section in Iran, but Jerusalem has decided not to intervene for now and has not sent a clear message to the administration about it so far.

"Israel is surprised at the need to open an interests section and about the timing of the American move," a government source in Jerusalem said.

A government source in Jerusalem also said that discussions in the administration will reach their peak in the coming weeks. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Assistant Secretary of State William Burns are for the move. However, the source said, the decision is so important it will be decided by Bush himself.

The opening of a U.S. interests section will have a major influence on Israel's freedom of military movement vis a vis Iran.

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HAARETZ: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1008457.html