Caucus Chairman Emanuel on Bush Administration Secret Negotiations with Iran

Associated Press - February 16, 2008

A Bush administration official met secretly with Iranian banking officials and senior government aides last month during a multinational conference in Paris to discuss money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

The talks took place despite the administration's near-absolute ban on formal contacts with Iran and while Tehran is trying to head off new United Nations sanctions over its suspected nuclear program.

The United States was represented at the meeting by Daniel Glaser, the Treasury Department's deputy assistant secretary for terrorist financing and financial crimes, a senior United States official said. Representatives of several other nations also attended.

Iran was represented by senior officials from its central bank, known as Bank Markazi, and its government, according to a Middle Eastern diplomat familiar with the session. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the discussions.

Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel responded:

"Weeks ago, the Administration criticized United States Ambassador to the U.N. Zalmay Khalilzad just for sitting next to the Iranian Foreign Minister in Davos. Today, we learn that Bush Administration aides are holding secret negotiations with Iranian officials. America needs an Iran policy that is consistent and clear, but the Bush White House keeps sending mixed signals."

See Chairman Emanuel's January 30 statement on Ambassador Khalilzad >>