Eurasia Press & News
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini said in a letter submitted to the Iranian embassy Britain mentioned that its marines did not pursue any hostile intentions when trespassing Iran’s waters and pledged to avoid repetition of such measures in future. Speaking to reporters during his weekly press conference here on Sunday, Hosseini responded to questions about London’s letter to Tehran, and said, “A letter was delivered to us through the two countries’ embassies, which mentioned that they did not pursue hostile intentions and would avoid such measures in future.”
He further dismissed reports about a letter addressed by the world Catholic Church leader, Pope Benedict XVI, to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, about the 15 British marines.
The spokesman also stressed that no British delegation visited Tehran for the release of the 15 British troops.
He also denied any possible link between the issue of the 15 British troops with such other issues as the freedom of Iranian diplomat Jalal Sharafi.
The spokesman said that the Red Cross envoys have met the 5 Iranian consulate staffers in detention in Iraq for a second time, but meantime he dismissed reports about a meeting between a member of the Iranian embassy in Baghdad with the said 5 missioners.
Asked to comment on the recent statements by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice voicing her preparedness to attend direct talks with her Iranian counterpart on the sidelines of the summit of the foreign ministers of Iraq’s neighboring states, Hosseini said the issue is not on the working agenda of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Regarding Iran’s nuclear issue, he confirmed recent talks between Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and EU Foreign policy Chief Javier Solana, stressing that nuclear negotiations should be goal-oriented.
“Iran’s indispensable right cannot be put to negotiation,” the foreign ministry spokesman underlined.
Elsewhere, he described reports about a possible raid by Israel and the US on Iran’s nuclear facilities and installations as media stories, reminding that the US officials have stressed both in their words and stances that they do not have any program for military operations.
“Our military troops are fully vigilant and they have already foreseen all the required measures of deterrence and defense and thus, they are not worried at all,” Hosseini continued.
In response to another question about financial disputes between Iran and Russia over the completion of Bushehr nuclear power plant, Hosseini underscored that there exists no problem or dispute between Tehran and Moscow.
