Sunday Times 2
Britain mediating in secret talks between Hezbollah and the US
Britain is mediating in secret talks between the United States and Iranian-backed Hezbollah with a view to paving the way for Tehran’s return to the international community, it was claimed on Friday.
Senior British diplomatic sources are said to be holding discussions with leaders of the Lebanese group and relaying the information to Washington.
Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia taking part in a parade
The U.S. does not recognise the political or military arms of Hezbollah so officials cannot legally meet with any member of the party.
However, sources in DC say the U.S. is open to the views of the party and may ‘warm up to a direct relationship in the future’, it was reported by The Jerusalem Post which cited Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai.
The sources said the discussions are aimed at keeping tabs on the changes in the region and the world and prepare for the upcoming return of Iran to the international community’.
Al-Rai pointed out that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani placed the talks with Hezbollah in the context of the wider negotiations with the West when he spoke to British Prime Minister David Cameron last week.
Reports of the talks come less than a week after a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, including Britain and the U.S, to freeze its nuclear program for six months in return for limited relief from economic sanctions.
But Western officials and experts caution that finding a permanent solution to the Iranian nuclear issue will likely be an uphill struggle, with the two sides still far apart on the final scope and capacity of the Iranian nuclear programme.
The Islamic Republic says it is a peaceful energy project, but the United States and its allies suspect it has been aimed at developing the capability to produce nuclear weapons.
Iran agreed on Sunday to stop its must sensitive nuclear work – uranium enrichment to a higher fissile concentration of 20 percent – and cap other parts of its activities in exchange for limited sanctions relief.
© Daily Mail, London