Iran denounces US Nicholas Burns for allegations over bombing

Iran yesterday lodged protest with the Switzerland Embassy, which looks after the US interest section, against Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns for "fabricating anti-Iran allegations."

Iran's Foreign Ministry denounced the US official for "fabricating baseless allegations and his irresponsible remarks against Iran."

"The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns the allegations, which are made with the aim of tarnishing image of Iran, and sabotaging Iranian foreign relations, national security and bilateral relations with Argentina," read the letter.

"Iran reserves its rights in light of international and internal law to thwart the US propaganda campaign against Iran. The allegations being made against Iran run counter to the Charter of the United Nations and the international law." Iran expects the US administration to avoid violating Iranian sovereignty rights, national security and international interests and make good on the damages it inflicts on Iran by fabricating such charges, said the letter delivered to the Swiss Embassy.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said on Sunday that US admitted that Iran had nothing to do with al-Khobar blast in Saudi Arabia.

"Admission of the former US

Defense Secretary W. Perry was a response to the US administration's baseless charges against Iran," said Hosseini in his weekly press briefing when asked to comment on Perry's statement clearing Iran of involvement in the al-Khobar explosion after 11 years.

Perry said after 11 years that the US had come to the conclusion that al-Qaeda had been behind the suicide bombing in the US military base in al-Khobar not Iran.

Hosseini advised the US Under-Secretary of State Nocholas Burns to take lessens from that and not to level unsubstantiated allegations against Iran.