U.S. LAUNCHES NEW POLICY TOWARD IRAN

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has launched a new policy that playsdown Iran's missile and nonconventional weapons threats as part of an effortto encourage reformist elements in Teheran. U.S. officials said the policy seeks to positively encourage Irantowards any gestureof cooperation with Washington. They said Clinton administrationspokespeople, including those in the Pentagon, have been directed to changetheir rhetoric toward the Islamic republic.