Iran says US deputy secretary of state`s comments inappropriate
IRNA
Tehran, Oct 30, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here on Wednesday evening branded US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage`s comments on Iran as "inappropriate and one-sided." Armitage repeated the United States` claims at the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday that "Washington remains concerned about Tehran`s alleged support for terrorist groups... including Al-Qaeda" Asefi said, "The literature used by US politicians do not match the demands they are making." Armitage had earlier on Tuesday said that the US may hold limited talks with Iran, but normal relations -- broken in 1980 -- were not on the table. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, touching on Al-Qaeda issue, added, "The US stand on terrorism issue is quite vague and unclear," adding, "the Americans do not have a bright and unbiased record in international campaign against terrorism either." On deputy US secretary of state`s announcement that the United States may hold talks with Iran, Asefi said, "Such comments are made following the accelerating pace of the troubles with which the Americans are faced with in this region, as we had predicted from scratch." He said, "Iran`s decisions are made based on our national interests and national security, not that of the others." Armitage had made resumption of talks with Iranians conditional with securing the US interests, adding that Washington would not yield to any preconditions for talks with Iran. Iranian Government Spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh, too, responded to Armitage`s recent comments after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday. "We are expecting practical steps by US," he said, adding, "you can`t threaten from one side and block our assets... then request negotiations." Ramezanzadeh said, "First and foremost, the US should stop accusing us." NA/214
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