Asefi terms closure of NCRI offices in US "positive step"
Tehran, Aug 18, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi
termed here Monday the US measure in closing down offices of terrorist
National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) as a positive step.
Speaking to foreign and domestic reporters at his weekly press
briefing, Asefi said the US action in connection with the Mujahedeen
group is in the framework of the responsibilities of Washington
government.
"This measure is a positive step which should apply to other
countries where the United States and the Mujahedeen group are present
including Iraq," he said.
The United States had recognized Mujahedeen as a terrorist group
in the past, said the spokesman, adding "It is natural that the US
adopt such a measure."
"The US should treat Mujahedeen very harshly in Iraq to complete
its measures in this respect," he said.
Asked about Iran-US relations in light of the US action on the
NCRI, Asefi said, "The condition of relations is dependent on whether
the Americans reach a new approach and consensus inside their country
to work with Iran."
"If such consensus exists in the United States and we see positive
and serious signs towards the relations, conditions inside the country
will also change," he added.
The United States on Friday shut down the offices of the terrorist
National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), after US Secretary of
State Colin Powell clarified that the terrorist People's Mujahedeen
Khalq Organization (MKO) was to be banned under all its aliases.
The order also freezes the group's US assets and bars US citizens
from making contributions to it, US officials said.
Pointing to the Zionist regime's threats against Iran's nuclear
activities, Asefi said, "We hope the Zionist regime would avoid
adventurism."
"This regime has showed that it is an adventurist regime and is
committed to no legitimate principle," he said.
"The Zionist regime will pay a heavy cost if it commits such a
mistake," the spokesman stressed.
http://www.irna.ir/en/tnews/030818133923.etn00.shtmlGC "no compromise" with MP over presidential powers
Sunday, August 17, 2003 - ©2003 IranMania.com
Tehran, Aug 17, IRNA -- Spokesman of the Judiciary Gholam-Hossein Elham has said that the council will reach no compromise with the Majlis over the presidential powers bill, the local press reported here on Sunday.
The Persian-language daily `Hambastegi' quoted Elham as saying that the bill brings the authorities of the three branches of the government under the control of the president, stressing that this is against the Constitution.
"The bill authorizes the president to reject any issue that he considers as ....
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