Houshang Amirahamdi, president of the Iranian-American Council, in an interview ‎conducted with "Rooz" from his hotel in Tehran discussed the Ahmadinejad ‎Administration's willingness to normalize relations with America. Below is the text of ‎this interview. ‎

Rooz (R): In the past few days a suggestion to open an American interest section in ‎Tehran was being discussed. Will the Iranian government take this suggestion seriously? ‎

Houshang Amirahmadi (HA): I think that if this suggestion is presented formally Tehran ‎would seriously consider and very likely accept it, possibly putting condition or ‎conditions for America. But it depends how the suggestion is presented. If America ‎honestly wants to have an office in Iran, and this is not just a propaganda ploy, and is ‎realistic in light of problems that the Iranian government has for accepting such a ‎proposal, it can be successful. The American government cannot say I will open an ‎office so that I can contact the opposition; rather, it must be an office that coordinates ‎issues between the two countries with the government. Rather than talking about the ‎people they must talk about the government. The first time this issue was brought up I ‎felt that American statesmen are moving in the wrong direction. They were saying we ‎are going to Iran to increase our contact with the public. It is very obvious that the ‎Iranian government will say we do not want you to talk to the public, but if you want to ‎talk to us, you are welcome. ‎

R: Why should the Iranian officials accept this proposal?‎

HA: The public seriously wants relations to normalize. Next to the Iranian government, ‎the people want it to happen. The government also has reached the conclusion that this ‎can be a bright start to solving problems. The Iranian government has had this guilt that ‎Iran has had a massive interest section in America but America has not had such an ‎opportunity in Iran. Now I think the government of Mr. Ahmadinejad thinks about this ‎issue more than previous administrations. Ahmadinejad is more willing than his ‎predecessors to make progress in normalizing relations between Iran and America. Even ‎Ahmadinejad’s critics in Iran admit that he has worked well on the issue of relations with ‎America. ‎

R: In your recent trip to Iran, what level of Iranian officials did you meet? Ministers? ‎The president? ‎

HA: Unfortunately, I am not in a position to disclose this information. I do not want to ‎say something to cause trouble for Mr. Ahmadinejad’s administration. There are forces ‎that are opposed to my presence in Iran and are willing to raise a raucous. In these few ‎days they have made lots of noise and written several articles about me. But my contacts ‎are at a desirable level. ‎

R: When you return to the United States, what message will you be carrying for ‎American officials? ‎

HA: I will definitely be carrying a message. I will have things to say to the Americans. ‎Last time when I came to Tehran in February I also had things to say to both Tehran ‎when I arrived and to Washington when I returned. I was very successful in doing so as ‎well. I do not want to call it carrying messages though. ‎

R: Were you able to meet with American officials following your last visit to Tehran to ‎inform them of the point of view o Iranian officials? ‎

HA: I certainly did. I had exhaustive meetings at the American State Department, in the ‎Senate and the Congress as well. ‎

R: what was the reaction of American officials to your viewpoints? ‎

HA: I believe that the Iranian government is getting prepared for this [relations with ‎U.S.]. I try to make policies more transparent and clarify ambiguities where they are ‎present, and have been very successful in doing that. ‎

R: Can you cite an example of meeting with someone to clarify these ambiguities? ‎

HA: Prior to coming [here] I had a meeting with Shaul Mofaz, who is deputy Prime ‎Minister of Israel. I tried to explain to him what is happening in Iran with respect to ‎relations with Israel. I tried to explain Iran’s policies to him outside the layers of ‎propaganda and rhetoric and discuss with him what the bottom line and main point of the ‎other side is. Unfortunately, many unnecessary layers and complications have covered ‎truth in Iran’s relations with both the United States and Israel. ‎

R: In your opinion, would a positive development take place in Iran’s relations with the ‎United States in the coming months? ‎

HA: It depends on the United States. With respect to opening an interest section [in ‎Tehran], the ball is in America’s court. If America can make a realistic proposal to Iran ‎that Iran can accept within its own limitations this possibility is present.‎