2009.11.08: Former US Embassy detainee RPCV John Limbert handed Iran post

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Iran: Peace Corps Iran : Peace Corps Iran: Newest Stories: 2009.11.11: Who is RPCV John Limbert? : 2009.11.08: Former US Embassy detainee RPCV John Limbert handed Iran post

By Admin1 (admin) (151.196.40.252) on Saturday, February 20, 2010 - 12:39 pm: Edit Post

Former US Embassy detainee RPCV John Limbert handed Iran post

Former US Embassy detainee RPCV John Limbert handed Iran post

As the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iran in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Limbert will report to Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman. One of the sources at the State Department said, "He will be the most senior official at State who deals exclusively with Iran," adding that in more than two decades at the Department, "we've never had a DAS for Iran." Limbert also serves on the advisory board of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), which is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization 'dedicated to advancing the interests of the Iranian-American community.' The Council opposes sanctions on the Islamic Republic and calls for 'patience' in dealing with Iran's stance toward its nuclear program. The organization is also a bitter opponent of any military attack on Iran. Former ambassador to Mauritania and former chargé d'affaires of the US Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, Limbert can speak fluent Persian and has worked as an English instructor at Shiraz University in central Iran from 1969 to 1972. Limbert also worked at the American Embassy in Iran when it was taken over by students in November 4, 1979 and was held for fourteen months. The former US diplomat is expected to provide strategic advice and perspective on the region, offer assessments and also act to ensure effective policy integration throughout the region.

Former US Embassy detainee RPCV John Limbert handed Iran post

Former US Embassy detainee handed Iran post
Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:06:54 GMT
Font size : [Increase] [Normal] [Decrease]
Veteran US diplomat John Limbert
[1] [2]
The United States has appointed veteran diplomat John Limbert, who was held hostage at the US embassy in Tehran in 1979, as its senior Iran official at the State Department.

According to several officials at the State Department and White House, Limbert will serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iran in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, replacing Dennis Ross who has been moved to the US National Security Council to become a special assistant to the US president focusing on Iran.

Department sources also said that Limbert would play an active role in negotiations with Iran, working with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns.

As the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iran in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Limbert will report to Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman.

One of the sources at the State Department said, "He will be the most senior official at State who deals exclusively with Iran," adding that in more than two decades at the Department, "we've never had a DAS for Iran."

Limbert also serves on the advisory board of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), which is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization 'dedicated to advancing the interests of the Iranian-American community.'

The Council opposes sanctions on the Islamic Republic and calls for 'patience' in dealing with Iran's stance toward its nuclear program. The organization is also a bitter opponent of any military attack on Iran.

Former ambassador to Mauritania and former chargé d'affaires of the US Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, Limbert can speak fluent Persian and has worked as an English instructor at Shiraz University in central Iran from 1969 to 1972.

Limbert also worked at the American Embassy in Iran when it was taken over by students in November 4, 1979 and was held for fourteen months.

The former US diplomat is expected to provide strategic advice and perspective on the region, offer assessments and also act to ensure effective policy integration throughout the region.

The appointment comes as US President Barack Obama has chosen to oversee US policy on Iran and has pledged to untangle 30 years of enmity toward Tehran by engaging the country diplomatically over its long-disputed nuclear case.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials say the US approach toward Iran has been in contradiction with the slogan of bringing 'change' to its policy.

"They chant the slogan of change but no change is seen in practice," Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said earlier. "We haven't seen any change."




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: November, 2009; Peace Corps Iran; Directory of Iran RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Iran RPCVs; Diplomacy





When this story was posted in February 2010, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers RSS Feed

 Site Index Search PCOL with Google Contact PCOL Recent Posts Bulletin Board Open Discussion RPCV Directory Register

Feb 10, 2010: Senator Dodd to Retire Date: February 19 2010 No: 1433 Feb 10, 2010: Senator Dodd to Retire
Dodd retires from Senate 6 Jan
Cameron Hume named US Ambassador to Pakistan 8 Feb
Florida RPCVs sponsor Everglades Experience 6 Feb
Jeff Hall brings aid to Sierra Leone 1 Feb
Peace Corps to reach 11,000 PCVs in 2016 1 Feb
Hugh Pickens writes: Standing Bear Looks to the Future 27 Jan
Ann Varghese survives 55 hours in Haiti rubble 26 Jan
John Guy LaPlante at 80 was oldest PCV 17 Jan
Steve Radelet to advise Hilary Clinton on Development 15 Jan
Obituary for Co-Author of ‘The Ugly American' 14 Jan
Peace Corps Establishes Program in Indonesia 11 Dec
What Happened to Obama's Promise? 3 Dec
George Packer writes: Obama's Troubles 24 Nov
PC Mourns Loss of Morocco PCV So-Youn Kim 17 Nov
Peace Corps volunteers return to Madagascar 16 Nov
PC to grow by several thousand over next 2 years 15 Nov
Former Hostage John Limbert named to Iran Bureau 11 Nov
Carrie Hessler Radelet named PC Deputy Director 9 Nov
Garamendi Sworn into Congress 9 Nov
Jesse Lonergan writes graphic novel "Joe and Azat" 4 Nov
David Macaray writes: Hearts and Minds in Afghanistan 29 Oct
Dustin Hogenson writes: Sauna in Kazakstan 26 Oct


Memo to Incoming Director Williams Date: August 24 2009 No: 1419 Memo to Incoming Director Williams
PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams

Join Us Mr. President! Date: June 26 2009 No: 1380 Join Us Mr. President!
"We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .

Meet Aaron Williams - Our Next Director Date: July 30 2009 No: 1411 Meet Aaron Williams - Our Next Director
Senator Dodd's Senate Subcommittee held confirmation hearings for Aaron Williams to become the 18th Peace Corps Director. "It's exciting to have a nominee who served in the Peace Corps and also has experience in international development and management," said Dodd as he put Williams on the fast track to be confirmed by the full Senate before the August recess. Read our exclusive coverage of the hearings and our biography of Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams.



Read the stories and leave your comments.








Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Press TV

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Iran; Diplomacy

PCOL45201
11


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: