Washington’s secret war against Tehran

By the end of this month, a rare meeting between American and Iranian officials will take place in Baghdad. Both sides stressed that the unprecedented talks would only focus on war-torn Iraq.

The meeting raises hopes that it could open a new chapter in U.S.-Iran relations. But now, nothing suggests that this is likely, as both countries are stepping up rhetoric against each other and are struggling to win the support of Middle East leaders. The U.S. Vice-President, Dick Cheney, who has been touring the Arab world, warned Iran aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Gulf that Washington is ready to use its naval power to curb Tehran’s nuclear plans. A few days later, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in the Middle East and responded to Cheney’s warning by threatening to retaliate severely to any possible U.S. attack. "The U.S. cannot strike Iran. The Iranian people can protect themselves and retaliate,” he said.

Although the Bush administration claims that its current priority is Iraq, it hasn’t given up on Iran. Silently, the war on the Islamic Republic has begun, according to an article on the Guardian Unlimited. Many other reports confirm that Washington increased its aid to arm opposition groups among Iran’s ethnic minorities that make up about 40% of the country’s population. Last month, ABC News reported that the U.S. had secretly assisted the Baluchi group Jund al-Islam, which claimed responsibility for an attack that killed 20 Revolutionary Guards. A U.S. Foundation report also stated that U.S. commandos have operated inside Iran since 2004. More on the story.