Posted on 02/09/2003 6:06:19 AM PST by knighthawk
Tehran, Feb 9, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here Sunday denied the news published in Washington Post on contact between Iran and US officials regarding Iraq.
The daily recently claimed that Iranian and US officials met in Europe to discuss the crisis in Iraq.
Responding to a question on Ariel Sharon's re-election as Zionist regime's prime minister, he said the signals received from the Zionist authorities are not promising and the new election proves that the Zionist regime still believes in pursuing an iron fist policy and seeks to violate Palestinian rights.
"We should observe future developments but going by Sharon's records, we see no prospects of the Palestinians achieving their rights and a solution to the problems in the region; we are not optimistic about the future of Palestine," he said.
On the issuance of a new UN resolution on Iraq, he said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran should be informed of the contents of any new resolution; therefore, we cannot judge on the issue at this juncture."
In response to the question by a Korean reporter on Iran's stance on North Korea, which has pulled out of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, he said the Islamic Republic of Iran as a signatory to the accord believes that the problem in the other parts of the world is the outcome of wrong US policies and hopes that the problem in the Korean peninsula will be resolved peacefully away from any tension.
Asked why the British government had authorized the terrorist Mojahedin Khalq Organization to stage demonstrations during Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi's visit to London particularly when the Islamic Republic pursues a transparent foreign policy, Asefi said, "We have already declared that the campaign against terrorism calls for a collective and non-selective approach and the MKO has been recognized by London and Washington as a terrorist group."
He added, "We have voiced our dissatisfaction with the freedom with which such groups can so freely stage demonstrations and gatherings,"
On the violation of Iranian air space by an unidentified aircraft, he said the news has been released by the media and officials are now investigating its accuracy.
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