US capture of diplomats aimed at Iran - Iraq relations: Iranians
Iraq-Iran-USA, Politics, 1/20/2007

A member of Iran's Expediency Council today said that Iran should exert all-out efforts with international communities to obtain the release of Iranian diplomats captured in Erbil, Iraq.

Majid Ansari referred to the complaint delivered to the UN and UN Security Council on the US raid on Iran's consulate, and added that all Iranian officials should do their best to protect the nation's rights.

"Iran is considered a leading member of dozens of international bodies and conventions affiliated to the UN, but it could not attain its legitimate rights because of humility," he added.

The member of the Majma Rohaniun Mobarez (MRM) added, "The US forces endangered Iran's national interests, savagely attacked our consulate in Erbil, and detained Iranian diplomats."

Rejecting notions that "complaints will not bear fruits, because international courts and the UN Security Council are in favor of the US," he said the complaint was necessary and should be followed up through legal channels to get the release of Iranian diplomats from US soldiers.

US kidnapping of diplomats from the Iranian Consulate in Erbil has caused humanitarian problems for Iraqi Kurds living in the province, representative of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Tehran said on Saturday. Nazem Dabbagh said that the closure of the Consulate has deprived Iraqi Kurds and patients who had applied for Iranian visas.

Dabbagh, who is also a representative of Iraq's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said that the Consulate used to grant visas to more than 150 people living in the Iraqi province and the US action has deprived the Iraqis of consular services for Iraqi people.

He said that the US attempted to sabotage Iran's relations with Iraqi Kurdistan province adding that fortunately there is understanding between the two parties. Dabbagh said that President Talabani, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and chief of Iraqi Kurdistan administration are seriously seeking to secure release of Iranian diplomats.

Meantime, an Iranian legislator today said that the US tries to lead Iran's policy in Iraq to radicalism. Member of the Majlis' National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Heshmatollah Falahat-Pisheh said that Iranians' letter to the UN Secretary General is considered the country's complaint in the face of US violation of Iran's sovereignty and international laws.

Pointing to the consulates of the countries in other states as a part of their territory, he added that the international community should seriously consider Iran's complaint on the violation of its sovereignty in Iraq to prevent the repetition of such acts in the Middle East, particularly in the Arab state.

He added that the Americans attempt to lead Iran's policy in Iraq to radicalism, and attribute terrorist policy to Tehran. "Not only Iran's diplomacy, but also Iraqi Shiites' policy are based on international regulations and Iraq's domestic rules," he said.

The MP further said, "Iran has not yet retaliated the US policies and acts," adding that Iran has always kept its cool on the acts of provocation and underlined the need for observing international and domestic laws in Iraq.

Iranian Member of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Reza Talaei-Nik told IRNA today that the Iraqi government is in position to release the kidnapped Iranian diplomats.

"Iraq's government has the potential to release the kidnapped Iranian diplomats.. Given the new grounds prepared for such a release, effective and continuous pursuance of Iranian government as well as the active role of Iraqi government in this regard will be fruitful," he added.

Turning to the US strategy to exert multifaceted pressure on Iran, he said that deterrent capacities should be promoted. "To prepare the ground to further restrict Iran and pressure it, the US seeks to break the limit of Iran's tolerance not only in security and intelligence fields as well as military, political and economic domains," he added.

Iranian Majlis deputy from Sabzevar Ahmad Bozorgian said today that the Iraqi government is responsible for security of Iranian diplomats abducted by US forces.

Another Majlis deputy said today that the US arrest of Iranian consular officials in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil was intended to put political pressure on Iran and the region.
Hadi Doust-Mohammadi said "The US, through its illegal move, proved to the world that it is itself a cause of insecurity in the world."

Iran's deputy head of Supreme National Security Council for Internal Security Affairs Mohammad Jaafari said yesterday that the US raided Iranian consulate in Iraqi city of Erbil to sever Iran-Iraq ties as a means to impose its condition on Iraq and the region. "Only through severing ties between Iranian and Iraqi governments, the US would be able to impose its condition on Iraq and the region," said on Friday.

Previous Stories:
  Iranians view US troop build-up in Iraq as failure   (1/13/2007)
  Iran: US, UK foment sectarian differences in Iraq   (1/6/2007)
  Iran calls for US policy change in Iraq, hints at assistance   (12/16/2006)

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