April 1998, Week 1

Iran,Third place in World cup wrestling championship
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma After two days and five team matches, Iran Russia and US all had a 4-1 record and counting the points Russia came first with 101 points, US second with 101 points, and Iran came third with 92 points. In the process, Iran collected 3 Gold, 2 Bronze medals and 2 4th place.

U.S., Iran sports diplomacy suffers a setback

WASHINGTON (AP)- Clinton administration reliance on sports diplomacy to advance U.S.-Iranian ties appears to have suffered a modest setback as a result of a little-known bureaucratic procedure applied against a visiting Iranian wrestling team. Instead of the warm welcome the administration had hoped for, the Iranians were photographed and fingerprinted by immigration authorities on arrival in Chicago last week. The episode left Iran's foreign minister convinced there was no shift at all in Washington's policy toward Tehran. State Department spokesman James Foley said Monday that federal law requires such procedures for unofficial, nonimmigrant visitors from four countries that are on unfriendly terms with the United States Iran, Iraq, Libya and the Sudan. Other government sources said the relevant State Department officials were not aware that any such procedure would be applied against the Iranians, given the administration's eagerness for an incident-free visit. As the Iranians were heading for the United States last week for a tournament in Oklahoma, the administration was hoping their welcome would match that accorded to an American team in Iran two months ago. Immigration service officials insisted they were only following established procedures and said the Iranian complaints were exaggerated, insisting the delay at the airport was an hour and 15 minutes, not the two hours claimed by the Iranians. They also noted that Iranians waited several days before registering a complaint. In recent weeks, the United States has softened considerably its customary hostile rhetoric against Iran while eagerly pursuing people-to-people contacts. Officials also have been giving expeditious treatment to Iranian visa applications. Foley expressed hope that the bad feelings over the treatment accorded to the Iranians would pass quickly. "I would like to stress, first and foremost, the fact that the Iranian wrestlers are, indeed, welcome visitors in the United States," he said. "And so in spite of what may have happened at their arrival in Chicago, this should not in any way be interpreted as a lessening of our commitment to facilitating these exchanges and this dialogue at that sort of level," he said. Other officials said that perhaps the stringent airport procedures to which the Iranians were subjected in Chicago could be waived in cases deemed important by the administration for political reasons.

U.S. Remains unbeaten in World Cup Wrestling

From:OSU,Stillwater, OK United States defeats Iran, 16-12, to remain unbeaten at the World Cup; Russia also remains unbeaten with victory over Germany, 21-7 The United States edged Iran,16-12, to claim its third dual meet victory of the day at the 1998 Freestyle World Cup, held at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., April 4. The match was not determined until the heavyweight bout. Iran opened the dual meet with victories from Bahman Tayebi at 119 pounds and Ali Reza Dabier at 127.75 pounds, opening up a 6-2 lead in the team s core. In a dramatic comeback, 1997 World silver medalist Cary Kolat (Lock Haven, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) scored a 1-1 referees decision over 1997 World Cham pion Abbas Haji Kenari. Going into overtime, Haji Kenari led 1-0, but had not scored the mandatory three points. With less than 30 seconds remainin g in the three-minute overtime period, Kolat scored a takedown to tie the bout at 1-1. Kolat was awarded the referees decision for having the least passivity calls against him, with three on Haji Kenari and one on Kolat. Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa City, Iowa/Gateway 2000 WC) followed with a solid 4-2 win over Massoud Jamshidi. Iran led in the team score, 8-7, after McIl ravys win. The U.S. took its first lead in the match at 10-8, when Dan St. John (Tulsa, Okla./Sunkist Kids) scored a clutch 1-0 overtime referees decision ove r Majied Khodaee. 1997 World Champion Les Gutches (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) made it four straight wins for the USA, with 4-1 decision over 1997 World bronze med alist Ali Reza Heydari. Gutches had beaten Heydari on the way to his World title last September. When 1996 Olympic silver medalist Abbas Jadidi of Iran scored a 3-0 victory at 213.75 pounds, the United led 13-12 going into the final match. Tom Erikson (W. Lafayette, Ind./Sunkist Kids) clinched the U.S. victory with a 3-0 overtime win at 7:08 over Ali Reza Rezae. Erikson scored a two-p oint gutwrench 1:15 into the bout. The match went into overtime with Erikson leading 2-0. Erikson ended the meet with a one-point takedown with jus t 52 seconds left in the three-minute overtime. There are always key matches, but Kolat and St. John came through for us, said U.S. head coach Mike McArthur. Erikson also had a great win, and Gut ches wrestled very well. We learned a lot from the first two losses. We didnt take any good shots in those matches. I think our team will come back and wrestle even better tomorrow against Russia.If we are as ready tomorrow as we were today, I dont see us having much trouble. Russia remained undefeated, winning its third dual meet of the tournament with a 21-7 victory over Germany. Teymuraz Oroussov of Russia pinned Fati h Ozbas in 4:44 at 152 pounds. Russia won six of the eight matches in the dual meet. Cuba won its first dual meet of the World Cup, sweeping all eight matches in a 29-1 win over Japan. To open the meet, 1997 World Champion Wilfredo Garcia of Cuba scored a technical fall over Takeshi Morita, 10-0 at 119 pounds. 1997 World silver medalist Alexis Rodriguez ended the meet with a 1 2-0 technical fall over Hiroyuki Obata. Germany also claimed its first dual meet victory, stopping Japan , 27-5. Germany won seven of the eight matches in the event. After the first day of competition, the United States and Russia have 3-0 records. Iran has a 2-1 record. Cuba has a 1-2 record and Germany has a 1 -3 record. Japan remained winless with an 0-4 record. The final day of the World Cup will be Sunday, April 5, with wrestling beginning at 1:00 p.m.

U.S. Explains Wrestlers' Detainment

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Clinton administration hopes the two-hour detention of Iranian wrestlers upon their arrival in the United States for a tournament does not jeopardize other exchanges intended to improve tense relations between the countries. The wrestlers were traveling to an international competition in Oklahoma when they entered the United States on Thursday at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Authorities photographed and fingerprinted the athletes for two hours. ``We certainly hope that this procedure is not misinterpreted as a sign of diminished interest in promoting such exchanges because it is not,'' The New York Times today quoted an administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, as saying. But the team's treatment indicated the absence of any shift in Washington's policy toward Tehran, Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency on Sunday quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mahmoud Mohammadi as saying. State Department spokesman James Foley said that federal law requires such procedures for ``non-immigrant'' visitors -- mainly tourists who are not government officials -- from Iran, Iraq, Libya and the Sudan. ``The Iranian wrestlers are welcome visitors in the United States, and we certainly hope that no offense was taken from the application of these long-standing procedures,'' he told the newspaper Sunday night. Iran's participation in the World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling championships at Oklahoma State University on Saturday and Sunday was made possible after American wrestlers took part in an international tournament in Tehran in February. The Americans were the first U.S. athletes to go to Iran since the Islamic revolution in 1979. They were warmly welcomed in Tehran and plan to return in September for the world championship. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, who took office in August, has been trying to improve relations and has called for greater cultural exchanges between the two countries. But hard-liners have opposed his rapprochement with Washington. Iran's parliament speaker was quoted Sunday as saying that ties with the United States would be harmful to Iran's interests. But Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri said Iran should have ``closer contact'' with European countries, according to the Iranian news agency.

Wrestling competition gets under way

From:Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Ok The host United States, along with top challengers Iran and Russia, won their first two dual meets at the 1998 World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling , at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., April 4. In the opening match, the United States defeated Germany, 20-8, winning six of eight matches. Sam Henson (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) opened th e dual meet with an 11-0 technical fall over Vasili Zeiher of Germany at 119 pounds. Another key victory came at 152 pounds, where Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa City, Iowa/Gateway 2000 WC) pinned Fatih Osbas in 4:08. 1997 World Champion Les Gutches (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) started off with a 3-0 decision over Hans Gstottner, 3-0. Other U.S. winners wer e Tony Purler (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 127.75 pounds, J.J. McGrew (Stillwater, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 213.75 pounds and Tom Erikson (W. Lafa yette, Ind./Sunkist Kids) at 286 pounds. In their second match, the United States won the first five matches and defeated Cuba, 21-10. Henson continued his torrid wrestling, shocking 1997 World Champion Wilfredo Garcia, 3-2 in overtime, at 5:50. Henson trailed 2-0, going into t he overtime session, but scored a one-point takedown and a two-point exposure to score the mandatory three points for victory. The dual meet ended dramatically, when Erikson, trailing 1997 World silver medalist Alexis Rodriguez of Cuba, scored a stunning pin at 4:00. Ro driguez beat Erikson in the 1997 World semifinals, and Erikson placed fourth. Other U.S. winners against Cuba were Purler, Cary Kolat (Lock Haven, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) at 138.75 pounds, McIlravy and Dan St. John (Tulsa, O kla./Sunkist Kids) at 167.5 pounds. At 187.25 pounds, Yoel Romero of Cuba upset 1997 World Champion Les Gutches, 6-1. The first match we had the first-match blues, but the second match, we were much sharper, said U.S. head coach Mike McArthur. Les got caught ag ainst a good athlete. That should wake him up, and Les could still win this thing. I think with two matches under our belt, the guys who made mista kes will realize that they must be more focused. Iran also won its first two matches, stopping Japan, 25-5, and Germany, 22-6. Iran won seven of the eight bouts in both dual meets. Against Japan, three Iranian athletes won by technical fall: Bayman Tayebi at 119 pounds, Abbas Jadidi at 213.75 pounds and Ali Reza Razaei at 286 pounds. Leading Iran in the Germany match was 1997 World Champion Abbas Haji Kenari, who beat Jurgen Scheibe, 4-3 at 138.75 pounds. Russia won both matches in the first session, beating Cuba, 22-11, and Japan, 29-2. Against Cuba, Adam Saitiev of Russia scored a pin at 167.5 pounds. Chamil Umakhanov scored a technical fall at 127.25 pounds. In a match of international stars, 1993 World bronze medalist Andrei Shumilin of Russia beat 1997 World silver medalist Alexis Rodriguez, 2-1 in overtime. Russia won all eight matches against Japan. Winning by pin were Andrei Kasiev at 167.5 pounds and Shumilin scored a pin at 286 pounds. Winning by technical fall were Leonid Chuchonov at 119 pounds, Andrei Yakovlev at 138.75 pounds and Teymuraz Oroussov at 152 pounds. WORLD CUP OF FREESTYLE WRESTLING Friday, April 4 Round One USA 20, Germany 8 54 kg/119 lbs. - Sam Henson, Norman, Okla., won by tech. fall over Vasili Zeihe, Germany, 11-0, 1:41 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Tony Purler, Norman, Okla., dec. Othmar Kuhner, Germany, 4-2, ot, 6:30 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Jurgen Scheibe, Germany, pin Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa., 2:31 69 kg/152 lbs. -Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, pin Fatih Ozbas, Germany, 4:08 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Alexander Leipold, Germany, dec. Dan St. John, Tulsa, Okla., 4-0 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore., dec. Hans Gstottner, Germany, 3-0 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - J.J. McGrew, Stillwater, Okla. dec. Andre Backhaus, Germany, 6-0 130 kg/286 lbs. - Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind., won by ref. dec. over Sven Thiele, Germany, 0-0, ot, 8:00 Iran 25, Japan 5 54 kg/119 lbs. - Bahman Tayebi, Iran, won by tech. fall over Takeshi Morita, Japan, 10-0, 3:15 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabier, Iran, dec. Sanshiro Abe, Japan, 4-1 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Isami Tsuboi, Japan, won by injury default over Abbas Haji Kenari, Iran 69 kg/152 lbs. - Massoud Jamshidi, Iran, dec. Ryasburo Katsu, Japan, 5-0 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Majied Khodaee, Iran, dec. Takayasu Tomoyose, Japan, 5-0 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Ali Reza Heidari, Iran, won by inj. dft. over Tatsuo Kawai, Japan, ot, 5:40 97 kg/213.75 lbs. -Abbas Jadidi, Iran, won by tech. fall over Hiroshi Kosuge, Japan, 12-0, 4:31 130 kg/286 lbs. - Ali Reza Rezaei, Iran, won by tech. fall over Hiroyuki Obata, Japan, 11-0, 2:30 Round Two Russia 22, Cuba 11 54 kg/119 lbs. - Wilfredo Garcia, Cuba, dec. Leonid Chuchunov, Russia, 4-1 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Chamil Umakhanov, Russia, won by tech. fall over Joendris Albear, Cuba, 13-2, 3:31 63 kg/138.75 lbs. -Andrei Yakovlev, Russia, dec. Carlos Ortiz, Cuba, 3-2, ot, 7:10 69 kg/152 lbs. - Teymuraz Oroussov, Russia, dec. Yosmany Sanchez, Cuba, 7-2 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Adam Saitiev, Russia, pin Daniel Gonzales, Cuba, 2:09 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Yoel Romero, Cuba, dec. Alexei Krupniakov, Russia, 6-2 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov, Russia, won by ref. dec. over Wilfredo Morales, Cuba, 2-1, ot, 8:00 130 kg/286 lbs. - Andrei Shumilin, Russia, won by ref. dec. over Alexis Rodriguez, Cuba, 2-1, ot, 8:00 Iran 22, Germany 6 54 kg/119 lbs. - Gholam Reza Mohamadi, Iran, dec. Vasili Zeihe, Germany, 5-3 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabier, Iran, dec. Othmar Kuhner, Germany, 7-0 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Abbas Haji Kenari, Iran, dec. Jurgen Scheibe, Germany, 4-3 69 kg/152 lbs. - Massoud Jamshidi, Iran, dec. Fatih Ozbas, Germany, 3-1 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Alexander Leipold, Germany. dec. Majied Khodaee, Iran, 3-0, ot, 5:45 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Ferydon Ghanbari, Iran, won by ref. dec. over Hans Gstottner, Germany, 0-0, 8:00 97 kg/213.75 lbs. -Abbas Jadidi, Iran won by forfeit 130 kg/286 lbs. - Ali Reza Rezaei, Iran, dec. Dirk Winterfeldt, Germany, 3-0 Round Three USA 21, Cuba 10 54 kg/119 lbs. - Sam Henson, Norman, Okla., dec. Wilfredo Garcia, Cuba, 3-2, ot, 5:50 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Tony Purler, Norman, Okla., dec. Joendris Albear, Cuba, 12-8 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa., dec. Carlos Ortiz, Cuba, 6-0 69 kg/152 lbs. -Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, dec. Yosmany Sanchez, Cuba, 7-2 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Dan St. John, Tulsa, Okla., dec. Daniel Gonzales, Cuba, 4-1 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Yoel Romero, Cuba, dec. Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore., 6-1 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Wilfredo Morales, Cuba, dec. J.J. McGrew, Stillwater, Okla., 4-2, ot, 6:30 130 kg/286 lbs. - Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind., pin Alexis Rodriguez, Cuba, 4:00 Russia 29, Japan 2 54 kg/119 lbs. - Leonid Chuchunov, Russia, won by tech. fall over Takeshi Morita, Japan, 10-0, 3:33 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Chamil Umakhanov, Russia, dec. Sanshiro Abe, Japan, 8-6 63 kg/138.75 lbs. -Andrei Yakovlev, Russia, won by tech. fall over Isami Tsuboi, Japan, 10-0, 4:18 69 kg/152 lbs. - Teymuraz Oroussov, Russia, won by tech. fall over Ryasburo Katsu, Japan, 12-0, 2:33 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Alexei Kasiev, Russia, pin Takayasu Tomoyose, Japan, 11-0, 2:53 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Alexei Krupniakov, Russia, dec. Tatsuo Kawai, Japan, 7-1 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov, Russia, dec. Hiroshi Kosuge, Japan, 5-0 130 kg/286 lbs. - Andrei Shumilin, Russia, pin Hiroyuki Obata, Japan, 0:54

Iran says its wrestlers hassled in the United States

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran accused U.S. authorities Sunday of mistreating Iranian wrestlers who traveled to the United States as part of exchanges aimed at improving tense relations. Iranian wrestlers were subjected to an "identity test" when they arrived Thursday at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency said. The agency did not give details, but the team's coach, Amir Reza Khadem, said the wrestlers were fingerprinted and photographed. Wrestlers said they had to wait two hours at the airport. Their treatment indicated the absence of any shift in Washington's policy toward Tehran, the Iranian agency quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mahmoud Mohammadi as saying. Monique Bond, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Department of Aviation, said Sunday that the Iranian wrestlers arrived without visas and were detained for about two hours. Immigration officials at O'Hare, however, said the wrestlers did have visas. "They were detained slightly and they went on their way," said Dean Hinton, assistant port director for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. He said he could not provide more details. Iran's participation in the World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling championships at Oklahoma State University on Saturday and Sunday was made possible after American wrestlers took part in an international tournament in Tehran in February. The Americans were the first U.S. athletes to go to Iran since the Islamic revolution in 1979. They were warmly welcomed in Tehran and plan to return in September for the world championship. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, who took office in August, has been trying to improve relations and has called for greater cultural exchanges between the two countries. But hard-liners have opposed his rapprochement with Washington. Iran's parliament speaker was quoted Sunday as saying that ties with the United States would be harmful to Iran's interests. But Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri said Iran should have "closer contact" with European countries, according to the Iranian news agency. kbar Nateq-Nouri said Iran should have "closer contact" with European countries, according to the Iranian news agency.

Iranian Cabinet denounces mayor's arrest

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) The struggle between supporters of Iran's moderate president and his hard-line opponents escalated Sunday when the Cabinet condemned the arrest of Tehran's influential mayor. Mayor Gholamhossein Karbaschi, 44, played a major role in President Mohammad Khatami's 1997 election and is a symbol of reform in Iran. He was arrested Saturday after he appeared for a court session in a corruption probe. "The entire government feels deep regret about the detention," government spokesman Ataollah Mohajerani said on Iranian television after the Cabinet met for five hours Sunday night to discuss the arrest. Mohajerani said the charges "do not conform to reality" and suggested the Cabinet would investigate the legality of the detention. Iran's powerful judiciary, which carried out Karbaschi's arrest, is independent from the president's Cabinet. The judiciary's chief is appointed by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and accountable only to him. The attorney general's office said the mayor was being held as part of an investigation into the embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds by city council officials. It added that it could be up to a month before he is released on bail. Karbaschi has said the allegations against him were politically motivated and trumped up by opponents of the president's social and political reforms. Since taking office in 1990, Karbaschi has won respect for improving public services and the appearance of the capital, a city of 8 million. But a management style that some see as high-handed has earned him many critics, particularly among hard-liners. Khatami remained silent about the case, but an official of the parliamentary bloc backing the president said the arrest ran contrary to Iran's national interests. "People must be vigilant and support their elected president and his colleagues," said Hussein Marashi, vice-president of the Hezbollah Association of the Majlis, which includes about 100 deputies in the 270-member legislature. Marashi indicated that Karbaschi's arrest was designed to distract from the country's economic problems, made worse recently by falling oil prices. hi's arrest was designed to distract from the country's economic problems, made worse recently by falling oil prices.

U.S. Customs Upsets Iran Wrestlers

By Patrick Casey Associated Press Writer STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- Some members of the Iranian wrestling delegation were unhappy Friday that immigration officials fingerprinted and photographed them when they arrived in the United States to participate in the World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling championships. ``We were invited to this tournament and we were your guests,'' wrestler Mohammad Talaie said. ``It wasn't nice, this behavior. It was a big problem that immigration did this. It took more than two hours. The team was upset.'' Coach Amir Reza Khadem said it was the first time that had happened to him, but he was not particularly bothered by it. ``It was a small incident,'' he said. Iran will face the United States, Japan, and Germany on the first day of the competition Saturday, then meet Russia and Cuba on Sunday. Iranian sports teams have visited the United States before, but such exchanges have been boosted by the success of the visit by U.S. wrestlers to Iran last month. The wrestlers, who participated in an international tournament in Tehran, were the first American sportsmen to visit Iran since 1979. They were warmly welcomed in Tehran and plan to return in September for the World Championships. ``When the American team came to Iran we treated them well. They treated us like criminals,'' said Mahmood Allahverdia, a producer for Islam Republic of Iran Broadcasting Co. ``When the Americans come the next time we will again treat them well and not revenge them for what happened to us.'' Allahverdia said the 18-member Iranian delegation arrived at O'Hare Airport in Chicago Thursday, then were taken to a room where they were fingerprinted and photographed before being allowed to travel to Oklahoma. A U.S. Customs spokeswoman in Chicago wasn't immediately available for comment Friday. Larry Sciacchetano, president of USA Wrestling, said he had not heard that the Iranian delegation had been fingerprinted until asked by a reporter. ``I don't know why it happened,'' he said. ``Our State Department has been cooperative in getting them visas ... We've tried to be apolitical, but it is hard in this situation.''

U.S. Rebuffs Congressman on Iran

By George Gedda Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- The State Department rejected a demand by a key Republican congressman that it decide within three weeks whether to impose sanctions against three foreign firms planning significant investments in Iran. ``All options available remain open, including the possibility of sanctions,'' spokesman James P. Rubin said Friday. ``I'm not going to speculate as to when our review will be complete, but it certainly wouldn't be based on some arbitrary deadline.'' In a letter to President Clinton, Rep. Benjamin Gilman, R-N.Y., chairman of the House International Relations Committee, accused him of foot-dragging on the issue. At issue is enforcement of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act of 1996, which is designed to discourage foreign investment in the energy sectors of the two countries. Last September, French, Russian and Malaysian companies entered into a contract to develop Iran's South Pars gas field. Gilman said the administration has used a variety of explanations for the absence of a decision on enforcing the law. ``Congress is about to begin a three-week recess,'' Gilman said in his letter. ``If ILSA (the law) remains unimplemented when we reconvene, this committee will begin to explore whether there has been a willful decision not to enforce the law in this matter.'' Rubin said U.S. policy is being pursued under the law but that the administration is examining what he called new factors, including whether the Asia financial crisis is having an impact on the investment. This was an apparent reference to the Malaysian company, Petronas, which along with Total SA of France and Gazprom of Russia, signed a $2 billion contract last year. In addition, an Indonesian firm, Bakrie, agreed to finance a separate contract for a private Canadian company called Bow Valley Ltd. It was recently disclosed that William Ramsey, a State Department official, will visit Malaysia and Indonesia within the next few weeks to investigate whether the financial crisis has affected the Iran investment plans. Undersecretary of State Stuart Eizenstat said companies in Asia have recently been cutting back on planned investments because of currency problems.

U.S. Softens Iran Travel Warning

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Responding to the warm welcome American visitors have received lately, the State Department has softened its travel warning for Iran, recommending that Americans defer travel to that country rather than avoid it altogether. The new alert, issued Thursday, noted there have been some non-official exchanges between Iranians and Americans since President Mohammad Khatami's call for a ``dialogue of civilizations'' and an increase in private exchanges. The advisory added that there is evidence that hostility to the United States remains in some segments of the Iranian population and some elements of the Iranian government. The previous travel advisory was dated last July 8, less than a month before Khatami took office. It warned all U.S. citizens against travel to Iran, saying the country ``remains dangerous because of the generally anti-American atmosphere and Iranian government hostility to the United States.'' Commenting on Wednesday about the changed atmosphere in Tehran, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright called attention to the warmth with which an American wrestling team was received several weeks ago. An Iranian wrestling team will participate in a tournament Saturday in Oklahoma.