Asefi: Negotiation with US not on government agenda
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, Dec 4, IRNA
Iran-US-Asefi
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here Sunday said that negotiation with the US is not on the government agenda, neither is the Iraqi issue for obvious reasons.
Speaking to reporters in his weekly press briefing, he added that the domestic affairs of Iraq are the concern of its people, given they are eligible to decide about their own fate and build up their future.
"Therefore, there is no need to discuss the matter with the US administration," he added.
Concerning the expected outcome of the future Iran-EU nuclear negotiations, he noted that it depends upon the Europeans conduct in the next round of talks.
"If they proceed to be reasonable and take into view Iran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, its voluntary measures and confidence building efforts, we will be optimist about the results of the talks. Otherwise, things will turn out to be different.
"We will use our diplomatic potentials during the negotiations to clarify our approach. Our reasoning is sufficiently strong and worth to be defended," he added.
In response to a question whether the level of talks will be raised in future, he replied that it depends upon the procedure of the upcoming negotiations.
"Despite the significance of the level of negotiations, their content and outcome are more important. Talks held at not such a high level may turn out to have fruitful results.
"Iran does not accept negotiations with preconditions and expects its inalienable rights to be restored," he added.
Addressing a reporter who referred to the remarks of the German foreign minister that Iran should be reasonable, Asefi noted that the Iranians have always acted reasonably, stressing that the European negotiators have rather been unreasonable.
About Saudi Arabia's proposal for mediation of Iran between Syria and Iraq, he said that the issue has not been discussed with any party.
Meanwhile, he noted that talks have constantly been held with the regional states about the security of the region within the framework of cooperation between the concerned countries, which has been one of the main issues of the country's foreign policy.
Asked to explain the recent change in the wording of the Zionist officials about Iran, he said that their recent remarks prove that the Israeli regime is fed up with the mobilization of the international community for exerting pressure upon Iran.
Asefi pointed to the serious crises within the Zionist regime and admitting to be mainly responsible for the threats and instability of the region as another factor for such a change.
He underlined that the Zionist regime is well aware that in case they make any mistake, Iran's harsh reaction will be unavoidable.
"The Zionists' approach originates from their fury over failure to materialize their threats," he added.
Turning to the news released about the visit of head of Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department (ICHTO) to Britain and his meeting with the British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, he said that no such meeting was held in recent days.
Replying to a question about the numerous visits of Iraqi officials to iran, he said, "Given the highly favorable Iran-Iraq ties, such exchange of visits between delegations from both sides is normal within the framework of brotherly relations."
He referred to the future condition of Iraq as highly sensitive and decisive and said that efforts should be made to enable the Iraqi people to build up the future of their country once more after years of dictatorship.
Regarding his recent tour of Syria, Asefi said that it mainly dealt with consular cooperation and the joint consular commission, adding that some agreements were, meanwhile, reached during the visit.
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