DATE=9/29/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-IRAN (L)
NUMBER=2-254476
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  President Clinton has sent a message to 
Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, seeking Iranian 
help in tracking down those responsible for the 
bombing of a U-S military barracks in Saudi Arabia 
three years ago that killed 19 Americans. V-O-A's 
David Gollust reports from the White House.

Text:  The letter -- the first of its kind by Mr. 
Clinton to his Iranian counterpart -- is understood to 
have been sent a few weeks ago, with officials here 
confirming it only after a report of the message were 
carried by a Kuwaiti newspaper.

The two countries have  no  diplomatic relations and 
the letter was carried to Paris by a staff member of 
the White House National Security Council where it was 
given  to an emissary from Oman for delivery in 
Tehran.

White House spokesman Joe Lockhart was reluctant to 
discuss the contents of the message but did confirm it 
contained the appeal for help in the investigation of 
the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing:

               /// LOCKHART ACT ///

      I'm not going to get into the details of the 
      letter, as it is private diplomatic 
      correspondence.  I will make the point, though, 
      that we have said before that we are seeking the 
      help of many countries in this, including Iran.

                 /// END ACT ///

Saudi officials have been quoted as saying they 
believe the devastating terror attack -- which killed 
19 Americans and wounded hundreds -- was carried out 
by Saudi dissidents with the help of Iran.  But a 
joint investigation by Saudi officials and U-S F-B-I 
agents has thus far failed to find those responsible.

Spokesman Lockhart would  not  say whether there has 
been a response by President Khatami  to the Clinton 
letter, though he noted that Iranian officials have in 
the past denied that Tehran was behind the Khobar 
Towers attack.

Officials here say the President's message reaffirmed 
Administration interest in an official dialogue with 
Iran that would address problem issues -- among them 
Iran's alleged support for terrorism and strident 
opposition to Arab-Israeli peace efforts.

President Khatami endorsed the renewal of people-to-
people contacts with the United States after his 
election in 1997, in a gesture welcomed by President 
Clinton.

But U-S analysts believe the Iranian President -- a 
relatively moderate Muslim cleric -- is wary of 
renewing governmental ties with Washington because of 
opposition from religious hard-liners.   (Signed)

NEB/DAG/WTW



29-Sep-1999 16:53 PM EDT (29-Sep-1999 2053 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.