American visits Iran blast site in deal

Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran

An Iranian-American businessman freed after more than two years in Tehran’s main prison visited survivors of a deadly 2008 mosque bombing as a condition of his release in a scripted event Sunday that could carry propaganda value at home.

Iranian authorities did not explain their demand for 71-year-old Reza Taghavi to pay homage in the city of Shiraz — and personally acknowledge an attack in which he denies having any connection. But it would fit into possible Iranian attempts to squeeze multiple messages from Taghavi’s release Saturday after 29 months in custody.

It can easily score political points at home for the ruling clerics at a time when international sanctions are hurting Iran’s economy.

Iran wants to resume talks on its nuclear program with the United States and other world powers after a yearlong standoff. The European Union’s foreign affairs and security chief, Catherine Ashton, suggested last week after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that talks could be next month.

Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said talks could move forward only if the West clarifies its position on Israel’s undeclared, but widely suspected, nuclear arsenal.

The U.S. and allies fear Iran could use its nuclear-fuel labs to produce weapons-grade material. Iran says it only seeks peaceful energy-producing reactors.