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Asefi: No reason for US involvement in Iran-EU talks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Feb 24, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi 
here on Thursday said Tehran sees no reason for Washington`s 
involvement in the ongoing discussions between Iran and the three big 
European countries. 
Addressing a meeting of Iran`s House of Parties, he said, "The US 
strategy is evident. It pays due attention to Israel." 
US involvement in Iran-EU talks will have no positive outcome if 
not bearing negative one, Asefi reiterated. 
He expressed the hope that Europe would act independently with 
regards to nuclear negotiations with Iran. 
Asefi noted that the Europeans should prove that in their nuclear 
talks with Iran, they can solve the problem independently. 
Tehran, in its nuclear talks, has never pursued any concession, 
however, it wants its rights to be observed, he stressed. 
Washington is trying to insinuate the EU states that they cannot 
independently enter nuclear talks with Iran, Asefi said. 
Uranium enrichment is Iran`s red line and that Iran will never 
overlook it, he said adding that suspension of enrichment cannot last 
forever. It will continue for some more time so that Tehran would see 
how far the European flexibility will go, he added. 
The challenges made and the pressures exerted on Iran are not 
aimed at combating weapons of mass destruction since many of Iran`s 
neighboring countries possess such armaments, he reiterated. 
"Some western states have explicitly said that since Iran is not 
with them it cannot have such armaments," Asefi said. 
Stressing that Tehran is not concerned over referring Iran`s 
dossier to the United Nations Security Council, he expressed the hope 
that the EU would act independently on Iran`s nuclear dossier. The 
success of Iran-EU talks will benefit both Iran and the EU, he added. 
As to critical situation in war-torn Iraq, Asefi said invasion and
occupation of Iraq by the US forces was a good lesson for Washington 
so that it will not attack any other country. 
Iran`s domestic problems concern the people of Iran and the 
Iranians have to solve them, Asefi reiterated adding that no outsider 
can intervene in Iran`s domestic affairs. 
All problems facing Iran are the result of the Middle East peace 
and the peace plan with the Zionist regime, he said noting that the 
Mideast peace is one of the obstacles in the way of the US for 
improving its ties with the Islamic Republic. 
On the upcoming presidential elections in Iran, he expressed the 
hope that the Iranian nation would participate massively in the 
elections, slated for June 17, in order to increase the country`s 
resistance against foreign conspiracies. 
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