Iran - US relations on Iraq still
Iraq-Iran-USA, Politics, 8/27/2007

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said yesterday that Iran sees no need for upgrading the level of talks with US on Iraq.

He told reporters that there has been no change in Iran's policy in that respect.

On the next round of Iran-US talks on Iraq, he said, "The Iraqi side will determine the next round of talks after making consultations with the other two sides." As to the US decision to place the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC) in the list of terrorist organizations, he regretted that the US has always tried to oppose all popular personalities and bodies. Such a policy adopted by the US has generated hatred among world nations, he added.

"The IRGC is a popular and legal organization which was established by the Iranian people. It safeguards the country's national interests and territorial integrity as well as the people's security." Such an approach by the US to the IRGC stems from the US policy of putting the blame on others, he added.

The US Department Of State Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey was asked today about a report in the British newspaper, the Sunday Telegraph that the White House's plans to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist organization are intended to give the Bush Administration cover, if it launches military strikes on Iran's guards' bases and probably also on Iran's nuclear facilities within the next six months.

Casey replied "It sounds like he's got another good movie plot there .. Look, the Administration's policy with respect to Iran is quite clear. We are very concerned about Iran's nuclear program. We're very concerned about their actions in support of terrorism in the Middle East and we're very concerned about their support for militant groups in Iraq, including those that are providing the EFPs that are causing a lot of injuries and deaths among our troops."

Casey added "That said, the President has made it quite clear that while no options are ever taken off the table, that we are pursuing a diplomatic strategy to deal with Iran. We are working with the P-5+1 and all other friends in the Security Council to ratchet up the pressure on Iran to deal with its nuclear program. We are working with Iraq and with Iraq's other neighbors to try as well to convince the Iranians to end their support for the destabilization of Iraq and to, in fact, become a positive actor there. And our military and other coalition forces in Iraq are taking action against those networks, even as we try and move forward there."

Casey added "And of course, we are also working with a variety of actors, including those moderate states in the region, to try and blunt Iranian efforts to support rejectionist forces in the region, whether that is groups like Hizbullah or groups like Hamas. So our strategy for dealing with Iran is quite clear. It is a diplomatic strategy. It is one that involves using a full range of diplomatic tools and resources. But there's simply no truth to the story that somehow a possible designation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard would be a prelude to or a cover for military action."

Iran's Minister of Information Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejeie yesterday rejected the US accusations that Iran interferes in the Iraqi domestic affairs.

He stressed that since the US is facing more and more problems in Iraq every day, it tries to put the blame of its failures on others.

The Iraqi government and people have repeatedly reiterated that the Iran has made great efforts to help establish peace and security in that war-torn country, the minister noted. He underscored the need for neutralization of the enemies' anti-Iran propaganda.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had said Friday that Iran's approach in talks with the US on Iraq is based on correcting US's wrong policies and help establish full security in Iraq and the entire region. He stressed that establishment of tranquility and security in Iraq requires correcting the previous incorrect policies of the occupying forces.

Such a move is in line with Iran's previous policies and is aimed at assisting the Iraqi popular government and the people, he added.

Referring to Iran's peaceful nuclear program, Mottaki said reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have indicated no diversion in Tehran's peaceful activities.

Iran has always responded to questions raised by the international agency and is determined to transparently respond to other probable questions by the IAEA, Mottaki emphasized.

He expressed hope that such a new move would convince others that negotiations would be the best possible solution to Iran's nuclear case.

Iran also welcomes continued talks with representatives of Group 5+1 (Russia, China, France, Britain and the US plus Germany), he said.

Previous Stories:
  US - Iran agree to meet over Iraq; differences clear   (7/23/2007)
  Iran - US new talks on Iraq; al-Sadr denies visit   (7/9/2007)
  US behavior to Iraqi people, unjust: Iranian official   (7/9/2007)

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