• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Asefi: Talks with US not on Iran's agenda

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, June 18, IRNA
Iran-Asefi-US
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here Sunday said that talks with the US is not on Iran's agenda for the time being.

He made the remark in this week's briefing in response to a question about the proposal of the Leader of the United Iraqi Alliance and Leader of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) Abdul Aziz Hakim for Iran-US talks over Iraq and the report of a media claiming that such talks are about to start in Germany.

In reply to the proposed appointment of an ambassador to Palestine by Iran, he said that this needs to be examined accurately and comprehensively, adding that the Foreign Ministry will declare its view on it after thorough assessment, given the sensitivity of the issue.

Asked whether Palestine will also be discussed during the meeting of the foreign minsters of Iraq's neighboring countries, Egypt and the Organization of the Islamic Conference member states (July 8-9), he said that various issues will be on the agenda of the event.

"Though it will be mainly centered on Iraq, any gathering of Muslims, including the one to be held in Tehran, obviously approaches the Palestinian issue as well.

Concerning the reason for the recent visit of US President George W. Bush to Iraq, he said in a humorous tone, "Mr. Bush did not inform us of his trip! However, to the best of my knowledge, it was associated with the US troops in Iraq and he meant to raise their spirit, given their low morale."
Turning to growing insecurity in Iraq and the US impotence to take any measure in this respect, he said that he aimed to assess the latest developments in Iraq and raise the morale of US soldiers who are in a disastrous condition.

About the outcome of the recent meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he referred to the fact that Iran's nuclear issue is actually being examined by two international bodies and said, "Iran has called for settlement of the matter and its return to the Board of Governors, where it should be assessed.

"We believe that legally the view of the IAEA Board of Governors on the issue should be take into consideration."
Asefi said that at the recent meeting of the board, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member states declared their strong support for Iran.

"The international consensus to defend Iran is now clear to the world. Meanwhile, the US has been cornered.

"The recent Board of Governors meeting just focused on IAEA chief's report, given that representatives of various countries, including some of US allies, did not agree with it. Many complained about the lengthy process of examination of Iran's nuclear issue, which is a simple and obvious case," added the spokesman.

Asefi said that Iran will use its diplomatic capacities to solve the issue, adding that the country's determination to continue its sincere, clear and honest cooperation with the agency has been declared.

2326/1412