US-Iran detente some way off, says Bush
US President George W Bush has said a relaxation of sanctions against earthquake-struck Iran does not mean that relations between the two governments have thawed.
Iran sits on Bush’s “axis of evil” alongside Iraq under Saddam Hussein and communist North Korea.
America wants the Islamic nation’s political leaders to hand over captured al Qaeda terrorists and verifiably end their nuclear weapons programme.
Tehran last month signed the additional nuclear protocol allowing UN inspectors on the spot access to Iranian sites.
Iran for its part calls the US the “Great Satan.”
President Bush said Tehran would have to do much more before full diplomatic ties could be restored.
“We appreciate the fact the Iranian government is willing to allow our humanitarian aid flights into their country.
“And it’s a good thing to do. It’s right to take care of people when they hurt, and we’re doing that,” the President said.
Iran’s December 26, 6.6 magnitude earthquake devastated the south-eastern Iranian city of Bam, killing an estimated 30,000.
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi on Thursday said the temporary lifting of sanctions was “a positive step.”
But Iran President Mohammad Khatami said there could be no change in relations until Washington changed its foreign policy.
