Eurasia Press & News
TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Withdrawal of occupying troops, transfer of affairs to the representatives of the Iraqi people and maintaining unity and solidarity among various groups set the only way to restore calm in Iraq, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hoseini stressed.
Speaking to reporters in his weekly press conference here on Sunday, Hoseini noted the painful incidents in Iraq and Lebanon last week, and pointed out that the oppressed Iraqi people are the only ones who pay the price of the United States’ unwise and improper policies on a daily basis while Americans still insist on continuing the same mistaken policies.
He expressed regret over the massacre of the innocent civilians in Iraq last week, and said those in charge of the recent blasts in Iraq have targeted not just a specific fraction but the entire Iraqi nation, including the Shiites, Sunnites, Kurds and others.
The diplomat further pointed out, “Under the present conditions withdrawal of occupying troops, transfer of affairs to the representatives of the Iraqi nation and maintaining unity and solidarity among various groups set the only way to restore calm in Iraq.”
Elsewhere, he referred to the recent assassination of the Lebanese industries minister and said Pierre Gemayel was killed at a time when Lebanon needed security and tranquility most.
Hoseini stressed that the assassination of Gemayel has been carried out by those who do not think of Lebanon’s interests, but meantime reminded that the Lebanese nation, government and groups enjoy high potentials and capabilities and that they do not need foreign countries’ sympathy and intervention.
The spokesman expressed the hope that the Lebanese developments, away from Zionist-American interventions and plots, could lead to actual independence and progress, welfare and reconstruction of that country.
In another part, he noted the 6th meeting of Iran-Malaysia joint commission in Tehran last week, and said that the two sides endorsed 77 paragraphs on bilateral cooperation under 22 chapters.
Hoseini reiterated that the two countries’ age-old ties and their cultural, religious and social commonalities have contributed to the continued and strong will for developing relations, adding that the same factor has caused Iran and Malaysia to share common views about such significant international issues as the nuclear case and human rights when attending world bodies’ meetings, including the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and G-15.
He said that during the said meeting, the two sides have discussed the existing potentials for enhancing relations in such economic spheres as investment, financial, banking and customs affairs, and cooperation in such areas as industries, mining, agriculture, fishery, housing and construction, transportation, oil and gas, tourism, etc.
Elsewhere, he dismissed the recent statements by the British Foreign Minister that the security level of the British embassy in Tehran is low due to its being located in a crowded, busy street, and gave assurances that the embassy and its staff do not have any security problems and that Iranian law enforcement police are guarding the place round the clock.
The spokesman further reminded that Iran’s diplomatic centers in London were attacked by some terrorists in the early years following the victory of the Islamic revolution in Iran, and said, “As a result of the same terrorist attacks and the consequent police raids to set the embassy staff free part of the Iranian embassy and its assets was ruined and two Iranian diplomats were martyred, but the British government, despite Iran’s insistent and rigid follow ups, did not hand the assailant over to the Islamic Republic while no ransom was paid to the families of the martyred diplomats either.”
He described the present stances of the British government as provocative, and called on British officials to review their relations with Iran in the past and pay attention to what has happened to the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic venues in that country.
Asked about a trilateral summit in Tehran to be attended by the Iraqi, Syrian and Iranian leaders, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman stressed that such “a tripartite meeting between the presidents of Iran, Iraq and Syria has not been on the agenda at all.”
He said Talabani was scheduled to visit Iran, but the visit was postponed due to the closure of Baghdad’s international airport following intense insurgent attacks in the country.
The spokesman said a tripartite meeting between the three presidents would be “good,” but that no such meeting has been planned “of the kind reported by certain media.”
Questioned about a canceled visit to Tehran by Bashar al-Assad and asked if he approves of the analyses which say that the US is seeking to separate Syria from Iran and Iraq, he stressed that Syria pursues fully independent policies in its relations with Iran.
Hoseini underscored that Assad’s visit to Iran will surely take place and that relevant coordination is now underway for specifying a proper date for the trip.
Regarding the nuclear issue, Hoseini said that Russia’s proposal for enriching Iran’s uranium on her soil has never been excluded from Tehran’s working agenda.
His remarks followed the recent statements by the Iranian Ambassador to Moscow, Gholam Reza Ansari, who had said Tehran is likely to reconsider Russians’ proposal for enriching Iran’s uranium on their soil.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the Islamic Republic officials are insistent on enriching uranium within the country, but meantime added, “Yet, other proposals such as the one offered by Russians could be placed on Tehran’s working agenda in order to be discussed during (nuclear) talks with the other party.”
Meantime, Hoseini stressed that Moscow’s proposal has never been put aside.
Referring to the country’s nuclear issue, he said that Iran has responded positively to an IAEA demand for sampling from the already sampled Lavizan nuclear site, and underlined that the agreement is a part of -and meantime proves- Tehran’s continued cooperation with the Agency.
Hoseini further assured that the Islamic Republic of Iran would continue its cooperation with the IAEA as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
He stressed that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the best place with the required authority to verify Iran’s nuclear dossier.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman stated that Iran is counting on Russia to exert its diplomatic influence to have Iran’s peaceful nuclear case returned to the IAEA from the Security Council.
Hoseini mentioned, “If Iran’s nuclear dossier, which has been referred to the UN Security Council, is returned to the IAEA for resolution, all remaining ambiguities can be discussed in a better way and resolved.”
IAEA Director General Mohammed ElBaradei on Friday welcomed Tehran’s recent nuclear decision and said Iran has taken steps in the right direction.
“Iran has agreed to a request by IAEA to provide access to materials related to its uranium enrichment activities,” ElBaradei said.
“I have received in recent days communications from Iran, in which it agreed to an agency request to take further environmental samples from the equipment already sampled at a technical university. It also agreed to provide access to the operating records of the pilot fuel enrichment plant,” he continued.
