Iran's reformists on the defensive

Khatami said Bush's remarks were "insulting"

		By Roger Hardy BBC Middle East analyst

Iran's two main political factions are united in wanting to be seen publicly celebrating the anniversary of the revolution - and publicly condemning US President George W Bush for his "axis of evil" speech.

But that is as far as the unanimity goes.

The new rhetoric coming from Washington has boosted Iranian hardliners. Anti-Americanism is their food and drink, and they have seized on Mr Bush's speech as proof that any prospect of detente with America is a mirage.

US-Iranian relations have been frozen since 1979

In their view, a new "cold war" with Washington proves the irrelevance of the reformists' programme of dialogue abroad and democracy at home.

On the question of US-Iranian relations - the most central issue of Iranian foreign policy- the reformists cannot afford to be outflanked by their conservative opponents.

They are left wondering whether hardline elements in the government are pursuing an independent foreign policy specifically designed to sabotage any improvement of relations with Washington.

The Bush administration and Israel have accused Iran of stepping up its support for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

They also allege that a boatload of weapons intercepted by the Israelis last month was bringing Iranian weapons to Yasser Arafat's Palestinian administration.

Iran officially denies the charges. But in the murky world of Iranian factional politics, it is hard to know whether radical elements working behind the scenes are involved in such activities.