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Asefi: Iran never killing time in negotiations

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Jan 29, IRNA
Iran-Nuclear-Asefi
Iran will never kill time in the process of talks, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here on Sunday.

"Iran is determined to remove ambiguities, continue talks and win its rights," said Asefi in his weekly press conference.

Asefi said return of Europeans to the negotiation table is a sign of Iran's right stances.

"Iran has in talks over the past two years proved its goodwill but Europeans failed to be logical enough; and now we are witnessing their declaration of interest in continuing talks," said Asefi.

Asked about the reason(s) Iran was absent from the Davos meeting in Switzerland, Asefi said the priorities of Tehran's foreign and economic policies were different with that of the session; therefore it did not take part in it.

"Wherever there are discussions on Iran, it is not needed to be present there, rather stances can be announced through these press conferences," said Asefi.

On a question about the London meeting on reconstruction of Afghanistan, Asefi said Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will represent Iran at the meeting and conduct negotiations with certain other countries.

Commenting on German proposal on economic sanctions against Iran, he said that economic sanctions will put Europe under pressure before they can force Iran.

Calling the emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors on February 2 as 'politically motivated and not technical', Asefi said, "The IAEA Director General has himself said he cannot present a complete report to the meeting." The Islamic Republic of Iran uses its utmost capacity in that concern and talks with different countries and one should wait and see what would be the result, added Assefi.

Asked about recent terrorist bombing in Iran's southwestern city of Ahvaz (Khuzestan province), Asefi said security forces have announced they have evidence at hand which points to a special country.

"The evidence will be known in the coming days; we will not allow any country to launch sabotage operations in Iran," he added.

He said Tehran is both patient and prudent in that concern.

Asked whether he meant Britain, Asefi said since the question referred to no name he did not present any name.

To a question about the possibility of China's contribution to Russian project, Asefi said the project is still limited to Russia and Iran and Russians have in their talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator said two formulas can be defined: one for Iran and Russia and the other for contribution of other countries.

Also asked whether the reason for a halt in export of gas to Turkey was political or technical, Asefi said, "As Iranian officials have announced, the barriers are technical and whenever the obstacles are removed gas exports will begin to rise."
About recent events in Palestine and victory of Hamas in the elections, Asefi said, "Palestine is in a sensitive juncture and we think recent elections showed Palestinian people have chosen the path of resistance and Intifada."
Referring to the phone conversation of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with the head of Hamas political office Khalid Mashal on Saturday, Asefi said Palestinians should be watchful because some people want to play down the victory of Hamas.

Assassination of Hamas leaders and the Palestinian people by the Zionist regime bore fruits because the regime thought it can check Intifada by martyring one of them but the result was something else and not in favor of the Zionist regime, he added.

Also referring to recent statements by the EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana that public votes are not enough for legitimacy, Asefi said, "These are the new things that we hear from Europeans and I think (the definition of) democracy should be defined and drafted once again."
He said that the consequences of Hamas victory are more important than the victory itself.

Asked to comment on the consecutive visits of Arab heads of state to Iran, Asefi said expansion of cooperation with the regional, neighboring and Muslim states is given priority by the government and the visits are based on this very reason.

Asefi stressed that stronger ties with neighboring states will help security and peace in the region.

Calling the outcome of Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki's visit to South Africa as 'important', Asefi said that based on the talks held with the Non-Aligned Movement troika, the statement of the meeting stresses the right of all the member countries, including Iran, to attain peaceful nuclear technology.

On the US President George W. Bush's claim to offer all-out assistance to anti-Iran groups, Asefi said, "If that's correct, I think Bush had made a big mistake."
If Bush reviews his words once again, he will get to know that his words are in total contradiction with all international principles, he added.

If Bush has made such a claim, he has hence stirred chaos in the international relations, said Asefi.

Pointing to Iranian people's all-out support for the Islamic Republic of Iran's system, Asefi said, the US will fail again as it did 27 years ago.

On certain European media's desecration of Muslims' sanctities, Asefi said, "We hope Europeans will get to know their grave blunder and extend apology for it."
Europeans will suffer more from such moves because hatred of millions of Muslims in Europe will later on create problems for them, making them feel sorry for their action in course of time, he concluded.

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