• Military

• WMD Menu                           

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

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Iran accepts US call for talks on Iraq

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Kuwait City, April 18, IRNA
Kuwait-Rafsanjani-US
Expediency Council (EC) Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani here Tuesday said that Iran has accepted the US call for talks on Iraq, adding that it has not yet started.

Speaking to the Kuwaiti news media and foreign reporters in that country at the end of his visit to Kuwait, he said that since the occupation of Afghanistan, talks between Iran and the US have been limited to the ambassadorial-level.

He added given that such discussions have been useful and have averted many disasters, they still continue.

Turning to Iraq, he said that once Iraq was occupied, Iran conferred with the US twice. But the talks did not continue, he added.

"If such talks prove fruitful, the two sides will be encouraged to discuss the remaining issues on which they disagree.

"According to our policy, the US should withdraw its armed forces from the region and a number of regional states also approve of such withdrawal. This is while the US is seeking pretexts to maintain troops in the region."
In response to a question on whether Iran will continue its nuclear program despite the military option and whether the country is prepared for a confrontation, he asked, "Why should Iran discontinue its nuclear activities?".

"The reluctance of colonialist countries to permit Iran's access to nuclear technology can be imagined. However, as a positive move, they should support Iran and other states to this end.

"We wish to avoid any confrontation. But if it is imposed on us, we are prepared to face it," he declared.

Rafsanjani said that Iran is determined to generate 20,000 MW of electricity from nuclear power plants, adding that the required fuel will be supplied through enrichment and from domestic mines.

The EC chairman noted that this project had been planned by the US before the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

Asked about the possible risk of leakage of radioactive materials from Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, he said, "The environmental and security matters in Iran's nuclear power plants are in accordance with global standards. Besides, this is supervised by the IAEA." Given that Iran's nuclear power plants are situated in the vicinity of Bushehr, Fars and Khuzestan provinces, where millions of Iranian citizens are residing, if they are unsafe they will not be allowed to become operational.

Concerning general cooperation in the region, he said Iran is interested in coordinating relevant affairs with all regional countries.

2326/2322/1412