State evades claims on Iran adviser Ross

WASHINGTON, June 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department skirted claims that career diplomat Dennis Ross was slated to leave his job there to take up a White House role in Iranian policy.

Ross works currently for the State Department as the special adviser for the Gulf and Southwest Asia, overseeing Iranian policy there.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz and several American newspapers published reports Tuesday saying that Ross would be "abruptly" removed from his position at the State Department to take on a larger role in Iran policy for U.S. President Barack Obama.

But State Department officials skirted the issue, saying Ross remained active in his current role.

"He's on the job here in the State Department working very hard," said State Department spokesman Ian Kelly.

Kelly later sidestepped the newspaper allegations that Ross was headed for a top position at the White House.

"Newspapers report a lot of things," he said.

Iran has emerged as a hot-button issue for the Obama White House, particular in the wake of the disputed Iranian elections.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared victory in the Friday presidential contest. Supporters for his closest challenger, former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi, took to the streets in protest over the outcome.

Obama has embraced a policy of engagement with Iran but has not linked that effort directly to the leadership in Tehran.