Iran condemns hostage taking in Iraq - Asefi
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, April 17, IRNA
Asefi-Remarks
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid reza Asefi condemned here Sunday taking as hostage of a large group of Shiites in the Iraqi city of Madaen by armed men and said that Iran rejected any act against the innocent and ordinary Iraqi citizens.
"Such moves are carried out by groups and individuals who oppose restoration of stability and security to Iraq following the establishment of its parliament and formation of a new government in that country," Asefi told domestic and foreign reporters during his weekly press briefing.
Some 60 Iraqi Shiites were taken as hostage late Friday by Sunni gunmen in the city of Madaen, about 40 km southeast of Baghdad.
According to media, the hostage takers said they would kill the hostages unless the Shiites leave the city.
Describing the Madaen's event as a "suspicious act and a pretext for prolonging the foreigners' presence in Iraq, the spokesman said such moves are against the will of the Iraqi people."
He further noted that these acts were taking place to serve "foreigners" by proving that Iraqis "are not able to maintain their security."
Commenting on a recent US prediction about the collapse of the Syrian government in a near future, Asefi called it a "very immature and injudicious statement."
Asked if a possible collapse of the Syrian government would affect Iran, Asefi said, "the stability and might of the Islamic Republic is not dependent on other countries."
"The Islamic Republic takes its legitimacy from Islam and the people," Asefi said, stressing that in case of any changes in Syria "no such effects on Iran would be imaginable."
Asked about the deadline allegedly given to Iran by the US State Department to finish Tehran's nuclear talks with the EU till next summer, the spokesman said "Americans had better watch the talks from their seats and let the negotiators do their jobs."
However, Asefi noted that Tehran did not believe in prolongation of the talks either and, instead, was interested in a quick end to it.
He added that tehran would not let the Europeans "waste any time."
The spokesman reiterated that Tehran's nuclear program was only for peaceful purposes and that the country was not to develop nuclear weapons through its nuclear program.
"Producing nuclear weapons has no place in Tehran's defensive doctrine," Asefi stressed.
Referring to the resumption of Iran-EU nuclear talks due to be held next Tuesday, the spokesman expressed hope that the talks would "lead to a conclusion within a rational and short time."
Asked on the alleged comments by a number of presidential hopefuls about resumption of ties with the US, Asefi said that the issue of Tehran-Washington relations "is a problem which should be solved by Washington and not by Tehran."
Asefi reiterated Tehran's principled idea that Washington should change its approach towards Tehran and noted that if such a move was done by the US, "the Iranian nation would be willing to help solve the problem."
Commenting on an Arab reporter's question about the US and Israeli officials softening their tones towards Iran, Asefi noted that comments by some certain officials of the Zionist regime were not worth being responded by Iran.
Asefi stressed that Israel was the "source of crisis and tension" in the region and "is not in a position to make statement about other countries."
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::IRNA No.034 17/04/2005 15:10 --End
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