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Asefi: West wants Iran to revise decision on nuclear issue

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, July 31, IRNA
Iran-Asefi-Nuclear
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said here Sunday that almost all European and non-European countries have called on Iran to revise its decision on the nuclear issue, including the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who held talks with Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi in this respect.

He added that Iran has been sufficiently patient with EU and that it can no more wait.

He also dismissed rumors about Iran's intention to occupy part of Iraq's Kurdistan.

"We believe that the Iraqis themselves should settle their border disputes and establish security at their frontiers," he said.

In response to a question about the confiscation of three Iranian motor launches and arrest of their crews in Oman waterways and the Foreign Ministry's approach towards the issue, he put the number of arrested sailors at 33 and said that they were all set free through the efforts of the Foreign Ministry.

"Six of them, who were sentenced to 39 months of prison, were released on Saturday. Two of the three motor launches, which were confiscated according to Oman's laws are to be returned to their owners. However, there is no way the other one can be returned, given that the Foreign Ministry was informed quite late," he added.

Thanking the Omani government for responding to our call on time, he called upon the Iranian citizens residing overseas to avoid attending foreign tribunals without being accompanied by a lawyer and the Iranian embassy's representative, in case they face any legal problems.

Turning to the status of foreign investment in the country, once the new government takes over and the situation of stock market, he said that this should be announced by the government spokesman, Abdollah Ramezanzadeh.

"During our talks with the President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he clearly declared that he does not intend to prevent foreign investment.

"According to the press, after the discussions held on the stock market, measures have been taken to stop major drop and balance is expected to be established. Thus, there is no reason for concern," he added.

About his status in the next meeting, Asefi said that he will continue as the Foreign Ministry spokesman and referred to himself and his colleagues as minor employees serving the ruling system.

"Our diplomacy acts beyond factions and parties and the procedure to communicate with it is quite distinct from what is common elsewhere," he added.

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