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Philip T. Reeker, Acting Spokesman
Excerpt from the Daily Press Briefing
Department of State Press Briefing Room
Washington, DC, June 5, 2000
"60 Minutes" Program About Iranian Defector
Question: Can you go beyond what was said yesterday about the "60 Minutes" segment on the alleged Iranian defector?
Iran Involvement in Pan Am 103 and Khobar TowersMr. Reeker: Let me find the right spot.
Question: You don't have a traveling party in Iran, do you? (Laughter.)
Mr. Reeker: No, sir. The U.S. Government is continuing to follow up on the information about an Iranian defector in Turkey which you noted in last night's television program. We became aware of his defection last week and we will carefully assess the credibility of the information he provides.
Now, concerning the reported assertion that Iran ordered the Pan Am 103 bombing, we have stated repeatedly that we will follow the evidence wherever it leads. In the meantime, the United States stands by the facts of the case as outlined in the indictment that we have presented of the two Libyans currently on trial for the attack, and we believe that case is very solid.
In terms of Iran support for terrorism our most recent terrorism report makes very clear our concerns about Iran's use of terrorism and has continually called Iran the most active state sponsor of terrorism. I think that might cover what you need.
Question: Phil, in the most recent overtures to Iran by the United States Government, were these done following any kind of conclusions that the U.S. Government at that time had reached about non-involvement by Iran in the whole Pan Am 103?
Mr. Reeker: I think our case on Pan Am 103 has been fairly clear and we've made clear all along our concerns regarding Iran's policies in support of terrorism and their opposition to the Middle East peace process. What we have encouraged and called for is a government-to-government dialogue with Iran to address these and other policies of concern to the United States, and the Secretary outlined that quite clearly in her March 17th speech.
Question: Would that, therefore, not be affected by any new evidence that pointed to Iran? In other words, does the U.S. Government want this government-to-government contact whether or not some new piece of evidence points to--
Mr. Reeker: Our goal is to get Iran to stop supporting terrorism, to get it off the list of state supported terrorists by seeing that they end their support for terrorism. Their opposition to the Middle East peace process, their continuing efforts to gain weapons of mass destruction, that is our goal. That's been very clear all along. We would like to see a government-to-government dialogue so that we could address those things and issues of concern.
Question: Can you say anything about your statement about your continuing to follow up on this alleged defector from Iran? This government, according to CBS, talked to this particular man on Friday. Have there been subsequent meetings? Have documents been offered? Do you feel that this man is, in fact, who he purports to be?
Mr. Reeker: I don't have any details for you on that, other than what I said, that we will carefully assess the credibility of any information that he is providing. And I am not in a position to comment on any specifics of any individual cases.
Question: Is the State Department ready to concede that it is possible that Iran may have been involved in Lockerbie?
Mr. Reeker: Right now, I think I stated quite clearly where we stand in terms of the evidence outlined, the facts outlined in the indictment that we presented of the two Libyans. That case is ongoing. We have said we are not going to discuss that in detail while the case is ongoing in a court in the Netherlands. We believe that case is very solid and that case will proceed.
Question: By saying that you are going to follow the facts wherever they lead, you are conceding, are you not, that it is possible--
Mr. Reeker: We have stated always that we will follow evidence wherever it leads. That has always been our position. Right now, we are assessing credibility of any information that may be provided, and that's all I have to say at this point.
Question: When you say "continuing to follow up," are you referring--is this a reference to what the CIA is doing? Are there diplomatic contacts going on? Can you tell us anything further on that?
Mr. Reeker: No, I can't. I think I've made myself very clear in terms of follow-up information.
Question: Thank you, Phil. It is also possible, is it not, that this is--this defector is a red herring who is spreading misinformation to distract and deter the truth from being told in Holland? Is that correct?
Mr. Reeker: I don't have anything to add to what I said. We will assess any information that we get that is provided in that case and then act accordingly.
Question: It has been alleged in the past that the Iranians, so to speak, put a contract out on an American plane and gave that contract, so to speak, to the Libyans. Has that particular aspect of potential Iranian involvement been examined and, to your knowledge, excluded?
Mr. Reeker: I don't have any information for you further on that.
Question: Can we talk about the terrorism report?
Mr. Reeker: Yes, sure.
Question: Before we do that, for those of us who don't have the U.S. case being made in Holland by heart, does that case that you say is solid make a link back to the Libyan Government or is it--
Mr. Reeker: I haven't examined the indictment in any great detail. I could try to get you what information we have on that afterwards but I am just not familiar with the details of that.
Question: But if it turns out that it does, then, by not ruling out Iran, apparently the U.S. position that you are stating here is that you stand behind the case as made in Holland but there may be other avenues. You wouldn't abandon the case that's being made in Holland?
Mr. Reeker: The case that's being made in Holland is being pursued by the prosecutors under an indictment that, as I said, I can try to look into getting for you. We think that's a strong case and it will be pursued, but we've said that all evidence will always be pursued to wherever it leads.
Are we ready to move on?
Question: A brief question. Anything on the visit to Libya by two State Department officials about 2 months ago? You know, the one where they investigated to see if it was safe to Americans.
Mr. Reeker: No. As I indicated last week, I don't believe that report has been moved forward.
Full transcript of Daily Press Briefing on 6/5/00
[end of document]
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