December 10, 2009

Source:

• A Congressional delegation to Iran.

From: [mailto:]
Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 9:30 AM
To:
Subject: Congressional Delegation to Iran

Greetings, Trita -

I’ve received recommendations from Jillian Frumkin (formerly at the Wilson Center) and Lorelei Kelly that I speak with you about a project I’m working on.

I’ve been meeting with a US Congressman and a US Senator who are interested in coordinating some kind of diplomatic delegation to Iran (or Dubai, Ankara, etc.), to reach out a hand to Iran.  They’re both Republicans and they’re not in agreement with how the Bush Administration is dealing with Iran.

Ambassador Zarif emailed me yesterday saying that he’s aware of several Members of Congress attempting to assemble a diplomatic delegation and I’m fairly certain that the two Members of Congress I’ve been talking with have not talked with Ambassador Zarif or even made their initiative public.

I’m also aware that there are several citizens lobbying the Hill next week to push for a congressional delegation to Iran.  So it may be this initiative that Ambassador Zarif is talking about.  One of these citizen lobbyists went with me to Iran last December which is why I know about it.

Anyway, I’d love to connect with you to hear your thoughts on a Congressional delegation and any ideas you might have.

Thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

Trita Parsi responds:

Michael – I tried calling you but your mailbox was full. My number is …… tp

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• Parsi informs Zarif about his new initiatives

5.19.2006

From: Trita Parsi [mailto:]

Sent: May 19, 2006

To: Javad Zarif

Hope all is well. I will be in NY on June 1 and wanted to see if I could steal 30-45 min of your time for two purposes (preferably in the afternoon):

1. NIAC is working with New America Foundation to set up a one-day conference on the Hill this fall to make the case for dialogue. We will be flying in 10-15 experts from the region and beyond. We would also like to have you address the conference via satellite link and wanted to talk to you about the feasibility and details of that.
2. I am working with the Strategic Assessments Initiative to work with regional governments to enhance the feasibility of a new Persian Gulf security arrangement. In particular, we will be working in DC to create stronger support for such an arrangement. Clearly, we need to work with the regional governments, and I would like to hold some preliminary talks with you about this, if possible.

Thanks so much!

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• Parsi wants to see what Zarif has brought from Tehran. The proposal is prepared for the Congress.

Parsi to Zarif: Wed 8/23/2006 11:04 AM

“Hope all is well and that you are back from Tehran. Would love to get a chance to see the proposal or to understand more what it entails. If it is substantial, then certainly members of Congress may find it a reasonable offer, even if the White House doesn’t. tp”

• Soros at Zarif’s dinner for Khatami

9.6.2006

Parsi: Did you hear back from Alpher?

Clayton E. Swisher:

not a peep.

had dinner at zarif’s last night with khatami et al.  you should know that steve clemmons talked you up a good bit to george soros.

On 9/6/06, Trita Parsi <> wrote:

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• Parsi reports to Zarif

On September 28, 2006 Trita Parsi sent an email to Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian ambassador at the United Nation. The email contained a press report that the “UN Envoy Bolton Unlikely to Get US Senate Vote”. In addition to the AP report, Parsi added his personal note informing the Iranian regime’s representative in the US that: “from what I hear, the below article still stands.” Parsi did not reveal in that e-mail who his sources are, and how they are aware of what the Senate vote will be!

9.28.2006

(from what I hear, the below article still stands)

UN Envoy Bolton Unlikely To Get US Senate Vote, Says Lugar
Thursday September 28th, 2006 / 18h58

• Parsi introduces to Zarif the Congressmen who oppose Bush policy

In October 2006,Parsi reported to the Iranian envoy Zarif about the lawmakers who had decided to oppose George Bush policy on Iran.

10.25.2006

From: Trita Parsi [mailto:]

Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 3:28 PM

To: Javad Zarif

Subject: Gilchrest and more

Just wanted to check and see if you have seen the draft of the resolution?

Also, happy to hear that you will meet with Gilchrest and potentially Leach.

There are many more that are interested in a meeting, including many respectable Democrats. Due to various reasons, they will contact you directly (partly to avoid going through Jeremy Stone). Their larger goal is to meet with Iranian elected parliamentarians.

Gilchrest is a great guy, low key but very respected among Republicans as well as the Democrats. These members are very disillusioned with the Bush foreign policy and are tired to sit on the sidelines as Bush undermines the US’s global position. As a result, they are willing to take matters in their own hands and they accept the political risk that comes with it.

>From our end, we are doing this because we believe that a dialogue is

mutually beneficial and since a reduction of tensions is absolutely necessary for the attainment of other regional and internal goals.

Let me know if I can be of any further help.

/tp

From: Javad Zarif

To: Trita Parsi

Sent: Oct 26, 2006 07:15

Subject: RE: Gilchrest and more

It is just like North Korea, minus the luxury goods and arms.  It also does not have inspections.  The rest is exacyly the same.  Ironic!  There is an interesting addition.  Prohibiting educating Iranian nationals (probably even in the US) in areas that could help missile and nuclear technology. This can be interpreted to include all engineering and basic science fields.

On the second issue, I am always open to these meetings.  Your help is always welcome.  I leave the modalities to your discretion.

Best Regards,  M. Javad Zarif

From: Trita Parsi [mailto:]

Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 12:03 PM

To: Javad Zarif

Subject: Re: Gilchrest and more

Will it pass, in spite of Lavrov’s statements?

Also, have Rep. Maurice Hinchey contacted you yet?

From: Javad Zarif [mailto:]

Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 2:05 PM

To:

Subject: RE: Gilchrest and more

Something will pass.

Hichey has not called yet.  I met him a few years ago.

From: Trita Parsi [mailto:]

I just read the resolution. Paragraph 15 is indeed somewhat odd, in the sense that it will target Iranian students. Was it put in there per the insistence of the US or France?

• Parsi sends his new article to Zarif. The Iranian ambassador finds It “excellent”

12.22.2006

From: Trita Parsi [mailto:]
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 3:57 PM
To: ‘Trita Parsi’
Subject: Blair’s Mideast Message Echoes Past Failure

Tony Blair has toured the Middle East and called for an “alliance of moderation” against Iran, in an effort to restart the Middle East peace process and reduce Tehran’s influence in the region. But the idea that the problems of the region can be resolved by isolating Iran has been tried before – under much more favorable circumstances – and failed. Now when Washington and London’s credibility is at an all time low in the region, can this failed strategy suddenly succeed?

The analysis below, published by IPS today, discusses this in detail.

From: Javad Zarif [mailto:]

Excellent.

Best Regards,

M. Javad Zarif

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• Parsi arranges a meeting between Zarif and John Limbert

From: Trita Parsi [mailto:]
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 10:40 AM
To: Javad Zarif
Subject: Dorood

Looking forward to “seeing” you today at Carnegie. As many others, I’ve been saddened by the news of your department, though I assume you don’t share that sentiment. ?

Would love to get a chance to see you one more time before you leave. When exactly are you leaving? Will coordinate with Mrs. Kamali to get on your schedule.

Also, wanted to let you know that John Limbert, one of the former hostages, is writing a book for USIP on Iranian negotiation behavior. He interviewed me, but I recommended him to get in contact with you, since you have been involved in all of Iran’s major negotiations.

I know this may be somewhat sensitive, but Limbert would love to come to NY and interview you. Would that be possible in your view?

Regards,

tp

From: Javad Zarif [mailto:]

Salaam,

Many thanks.  I would be prepared to meet with him informally and off-the-record.

Best Regards,

M. Javad Zarif

john limbert [] 2.26.2007

Trita,

I wanted to thank you for arranging the meeting with Ambassador Zarif.  We had a very profitable session during my recent trip to New York.

Thanks again for all your help.

Regards.

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• Parsi meets Zarif

From: Trita Parsi [mailto:]

Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 3:39 PM

To: Javad Zarif

Subject: Salaam

Salaam – would you have time to meet next Friday? I am having a meeting with Gilchrest and Meeks, and they asked for our assistance in getting some communication going between the parliamentarians.

Sincerely,

Trita Parsi, PhD

From: Javad Zarif

Salaam,

I will be happy to.  Tell me when you are planning to be in the city and I will let you know how I can fit it in my schedule.

Best Regards,

M. Javad Zarif, Ph.d.

Tel: +1(212)687-2020

Fax: +1(212)867-5662

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• Parsi sends his new article to Zarif. The Iranian regime’s ambassador responds: “Many thanks for sending me this excellent – as usual – piece”

From: Trita Parsi [mailto:]
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 6:39 PM
To: Trita Parsi
Subject: White House moves on Iran with Congress in recess

With Congress being in recess, the White House seems to have found an opportunity to ratchet up tensions with Iran without facing much pushback. President Bush’s tough speech on Iran yesterday, which followed President Ahmadinejad’s provocative statements at a Tehran press conference hours earlier, on surface appears as business as usual. But if Congress is unable or unwilling to contain deliberate or unintentional escalation, then there may be little business as usual about Washington and Tehran’s intensified war of words.

In the analysis below, published by Inter-Press Services today, the issue is discussed in greater detail.

PS. My book “Treacherous Alliance” has hit the shelves! . Israel’s former foreign minister Shlomo Ben-Ami calls the book “a brilliant interpretation of one of today’s most enigmatic conflicts,” Francis Fukuyama says it is “extremely important,” John Mearsheimer calls it “outstanding” and former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski writes that Treacherous Alliance is “a penetrating, provocative, and very timely study.”

Sincerely,

Trita Parsi, PhD

From: Javad Zarif [mailto:]

Salaam Trita,

Many thanks for sending me this excellent – as usual – piece.

Javad

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• Parsi sends his new article to Zarif. The Iranian regime’s ambassador responds: “Many thanks for sharing this insightful article with me. I wish you continued success.”

From: Trita Parsi [mailto:]
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 4:33 PM
To: Trita Parsi
Subject: Is it really 1938 and is Iran really Germany?

According to Likud Leader Benyamin Netanyahu, it is 1938 and Iran is Germany. And of course, Ahmadinejad is Hitler, he goes on to imply. Bibi’s analogy is very powerful and effective – yet false and tremendously dangerous. As I explain on the blog of , not only is the analogy aimed at preventing diplomacy and making war with Iran inevitable, the ever so opportunistic Netanyahu played a remarkably different role only ten years ago when he ordered Israel to tone down its rhetoric on Iran and sought to quietly open up to Tehran.

A portion of the article and a link to the full article can be found below.

PS. This episode in Israeli-Iranian relations is explained in even greater detail in

Sincerely,

Trita Parsi, PhD

Zarif responds:

Salaam,

Many thanks for sharing this insightful article with me.

I wish you continued success.

Javad,