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DATE=9/29/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=CLINTON-IRAN (L) NUMBER=2-254476 BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: President Clinton has sent a message to Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, seeking Iranian help in tracking down those responsible for the bombing of a U-S military barracks in Saudi Arabia three years ago that killed 19 Americans. V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the White House. Text: The letter -- the first of its kind by Mr. Clinton to his Iranian counterpart -- is understood to have been sent a few weeks ago, with officials here confirming it only after a report of the message were carried by a Kuwaiti newspaper. The two countries have no diplomatic relations and the letter was carried to Paris by a staff member of the White House National Security Council where it was given to an emissary from Oman for delivery in Tehran. White House spokesman Joe Lockhart was reluctant to discuss the contents of the message but did confirm it contained the appeal for help in the investigation of the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing: /// LOCKHART ACT /// I'm not going to get into the details of the letter, as it is private diplomatic correspondence. I will make the point, though, that we have said before that we are seeking the help of many countries in this, including Iran. /// END ACT /// Saudi officials have been quoted as saying they believe the devastating terror attack -- which killed 19 Americans and wounded hundreds -- was carried out by Saudi dissidents with the help of Iran. But a joint investigation by Saudi officials and U-S F-B-I agents has thus far failed to find those responsible. Spokesman Lockhart would not say whether there has been a response by President Khatami to the Clinton letter, though he noted that Iranian officials have in the past denied that Tehran was behind the Khobar Towers attack. Officials here say the President's message reaffirmed Administration interest in an official dialogue with Iran that would address problem issues -- among them Iran's alleged support for terrorism and strident opposition to Arab-Israeli peace efforts. President Khatami endorsed the renewal of people-to- people contacts with the United States after his election in 1997, in a gesture welcomed by President Clinton. But U-S analysts believe the Iranian President -- a relatively moderate Muslim cleric -- is wary of renewing governmental ties with Washington because of opposition from religious hard-liners. (Signed) NEB/DAG/WTW 29-Sep-1999 16:53 PM EDT (29-Sep-1999 2053 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .