On the Eve of Nuclear Talks, Iran's Foreign Minister Makes a Washington Visit.

As the United States and Iran prepared for critical talks over Tehran's nuclear program, the Iranian foreign minister arrived quietly in Washington on Wednesday to visit the unofficial embassy here, the first visit to the capital by an Iranian of that rank in a decade. While there were no plans for the minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, to meet with any American officials, his curiously timed visit, which was approved by the Obama administration, may help thaw the atmosphere as the administration puts its policy of engagement with Iran to the test. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]