Asefi: Iranians share Iraqi joy over Zarqawi's death
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, June 11, IRNA
Iran-Asefi-Iraq
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here Sunday said that like the people of Iraq, Iranians are also glad that al-Qaeda member in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has been killed.
Speaking to the media in his weekly press conference, he said that Iran condemns terrorism anywhere in the world, particularly in Iraq, irrespective of whether the victims are Shiites or Sunnis, given that there is no good and bad terrorism.
The spokesman underlined that killing Iraqi people is unacceptable to any kind of reasoning.
Turning to the joy of the Iraqi people over the death of al-Zarqawi, he said that it proves he was despised by Iraqis because of his violence, adding that Iranians are equally glad.
"Of course, this does not mean that Iran has been cooperating with the US or any institution to locate al-Zarqawi. Neither did Iran communicate with Iraq in this respect," he added.
He referred to the claim on providing intelligence by Iran mainly to target al-Zarqawi as a plot by the media with a certain objective and said that Iran has not cooperated with the US in this respect.
Meanwhile, Asefi said that Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal is due in Tehran on Monday to exchange views with Iranian officials about Palestine, Iraq, Iran's nuclear issue as well as cooperation on regional and international issues.
He said that given the upcoming Shanghai summit at the end of the current week and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to China to attend the event, Iran's diplomacy and foreign policy are expected to be given momentum.
Asefi noted that the upcoming summit will provide the opportunity for various countries to get an idea on Iran's views.
During his visit to China, the president is expected to confer separately with high-ranking officials from the represented countries on bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments.
"Ahmadinejad intends to exchange views with heads of states due to attend the Shanghai summit about various matters, including Iran's nuclear issue," he added.
About the message expected to be submitted by the Saudi foreign minister during his visit, he said that it is impossible to know its content ahead of receiving it, adding that it will be from the Saudi Arabian King Abdullah.
He pointed to Larijani's visit to Egypt and said that it has to do with Iran's nuclear issue, adding that in addition to holding talks with European states, China and Russia, Iran should also discuss the issue with Muslim and Arab states and make optimum use of such capacities.
In response to a question about the recent talks with Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar in Tehran, he assessed them as favorable and said that today Palestinians need assistance more than ever.
He referred to Iran's assistance to Palestine and urged Islam states, in particular the well-off Islamic countries to extend a helping hand to the Palestinian nation.
Asefi called on Islamic states not to let Palestine be trampled over by the Zionists, though they will not be trampled and the Palestinian Resistance Movement will materialize its ideals one after another.
Responding to a question whether Iraq's vice president visited Iran to mediate between Iran and US for holding talks, he dismissed it and said that it has nothing to do with such talks.
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