Today in Washington (April 9, 2009)

Clinton says US pursuing engagement with Iran - Clinton says US pursuing engagement with Iran

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that Washington would be a full participant in talks between major powers and Iran on the latters nuclear program.

Obviously, we believe that pursuing very careful engagement on a range of issues that affect our interests and the interests of the world with Iran makes sense, and theres nothing more important than trying to convince Iran to cease its efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon, Clinton told reporters.

The United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China said yesterday that they would ask European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, to invite Iran for these talks to find a diplomatic solution to this critical issue.

Earlier on Wednesday, Clinton voiced concern by news that Iran had filed espionage charges against Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, and demanded her immediate release.

Irans semi-official ISNA news agency yesterday quoted Tehrans deputy prosecutor, Hassan Haddad, as saying that the 31-year-old freelance journalist, who has been held in Tehrans Evin Prison since 31 January, had been charged with espionage and had accepted the accusation.

Jeffrey Feltman nominated as top US diplomat on the Mideast

US President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated Jeffrey Feltman as the assistant secretary for Near Eastern affairs at the State Department.

In a White House statement, Obama praised the skill and dedication of Feltman and three other nominees presented yesterday, voicing hope that they would serve the American people well as we work to keep our nation safe at home and abroad.

Feltman will replace David Welch at the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, which deals with US foreign policy towards Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, the Palestinian territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

His nomination needs to be ...

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