BAGHDAD, Iraq,
Nov. 10--Head of United Iraq Coalition Seyyed Abdel Aziz Al-Hakim said more Iranians detained by the US forces in Iraq will be freed soon.
Hakim also told IRNA on Saturday consultations are underway in Iraq for releasing the other Iranian diplomats kidnapped in the country, adding that the US ambassador to Iraq has vowed to prepare the ground for releasing the Iranian prisoners.
Hakim expressed hope that other Iranians will be freed soon, stressing that the Iraqi government has called on US forces to take measures for releasing them.
“Iran-US talks on Iraqi issues, which indicate Tehran’s support for the Iraqi people, have been highly constructive,“ he said.
“I hope the next round of talks will be more constructive and transparent.“
The senior Iraqi official hailed Iran’s efforts to help the Iraqi people and said Iran has assisted the country when Saddam Hussein was president of Iraq and also after his ouster.
Hakim noted that the Iraqi people hope foreign forces will leave the country soon.
Nine Iranians, jailed by US forces in Iraq, were released by the US and handed over to Iranian officials through Iraqi authorities on Nov. 9.
The nine Iranians, including two diplomats, had been arrested in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil in January 2006.
Meanwhile, Iraq has agreed to help discover the whereabouts of Iranian troops who went missing during the 1980-88 Iraq-imposed war.
“We will hold talks with Iranian officials next month to determine the fate of those missing in the warÉand start search operations for the bodies of the killed troops,“ said Iraqi Minister of Human Rights Wijdan Mikha’il Salim, Presstv reported.
The war, waged against Iran by former Iraqi dictator Saddam, lasted eight years. The bodies of a number of Iranian soldiers still remain buried in Iraq.
Saddam’s lust for power resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of Iranian and Iraqi soldiers as well as civilians.
In related news, Deputy Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad Al-Haj Hamoud said a government committee will consider a plan to change the route of the Iran-Iraq river Arvand Roud to its previous course.
According to the Al-Forat website, Hamoud added that the committee members, including Foreign Ministry and related organizations’ officials, will visit Tehran to discuss the issue.
“Iran agreed to change the path of the river to its previous course,“ he said.
The route of the river changed because of natural factors and drowned ships.

CRAWFORD, USA, Nov. 10--US President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will continue their talks on Saturday, focusing on the Middle East peace process, efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and other international issues.
On Friday, the German chancellor joined an elite group of world leaders invited to the “Prairie Chapel“ property for talks expected to showcase diplomatic efforts to solve Iran’s nuclear program issue, AFP reported.
Ahead of the talks, US officials downplayed fissures among allies on the American hard line toward Iran and Germany’s restrictions on its troops in Afghanistan but also downplayed the likelihood of any breakthroughs.
“Strategically, we see eye-to-eye. I think tactically there are some slight differences,“ on issues like Iran and Afghanistan, said US National Security Council Spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
Bush will take up the new round of US sanctions on the Islamic Republic and tell Merkel “this is part of our diplomatic strategy“, he said. “While, yes, we never take any options off the table, this was the next step in trying to make diplomacy work.“
Merkel, who leads Iran’s largest European trading partner, said Germany would embrace “further, tougher sanctions“ if ongoing talks fail to convince Iran to heed UN demands to freeze sensitive nuclear work.
Also on Friday, Romanian Defense Minister Teodor Melescanu said no country should be deprived of the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and Iran is no exception.
According to Xinhua, the local media reported that Melescanu made the remark after meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Romania Hamid Reza Arshadi.
He said that at a time when Iran refuses to suspend its uranium enrichment activities and the United States seeks to impose tougher sanctions against the Islamic Republic, Tehran should sign an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to end the standoff.
Melescanu added that his country desires to strengthen ties with Iran, which is an important player in the Middle East.
For his part, Arshadi reiterated that his country’s nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, which also wishes to consolidate ties with Bucharest and boost bilateral military and security cooperation.
Meanwhile, Israel and the United States have agreed to appoint two working committees to hone a joint strategy against Iran’s nuclear program, public radio reported on Friday.
Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz headed discussions on the matter in the United States this week, it said.
One committee will deal with intelligence on Iran’s nuclear drive and the other with international sanctions, the chief weapon in an effort to convince Tehran to halt uranium enrichment.
The next formal discussions between Israeli and US officials on Iran will be in two months in Israel, the radio station reported.
Israel belongs to the UN nuclear watchdog but is not a signatory to its key Non-Proliferation Treaty, and is widely considered to have the Middle East’s sole nuclear arsenal.

TEHRAN, Nov. 10--A top military commander said despite threats and conspiracies against the Iranian nation, the country is experiencing security and calm.
Speaking among the students of Imam Hussein (AS) University on Saturday, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari added that peace and security have been ensured by the armed forces of the country, particularly the Islamic Revolution’s Guards Corps, IRNA reported.
“The IRGC guarantees the preservation and continuation of the 1979 Islamic Revolution,“ he said, reiterating that the IRGC is not merely a military organization but also a cultural entity.
He said the main mission of IRGC is to safeguard the 1979 Islamic Revolution and its values.
Jafari said the IRGC personnel should be equipped with faith, spirituality and revolutionary values.
Meanwhile, Commander of IRGC’s Air Force Division Brigadier General Mohammad Eslami said the armed forces are prepared to confront the plots of enemies militarily.
Eslami said Iran’s enemies are unable to inflict even the slightest damage on Iran.

TEHRAN, Nov. 10--Election supervisory boards will be formed in provinces by the weekend, said spokesman of the Guardians Council.
Speaking in his weekly press conference on Saturday, Abbasali Kadkhodaei added that preparations have been made in the Guardians Council for the upcoming parliament elections slated for March 14, IRNA reported.
He rejected early election campaigns, saying candidates cannot start electioneering until they are qualified.
Kadkhodaei criticized the lack of laws concerning early election campaigns.
“The next parliamentary elections will not be held electronically, as the Interior Ministry has not provided the Guardians Council with the related software,“ he said.
Kadkhodaei, however, said votes will be gathered electronically in some electoral districts.

TEHRAN, Nov. 10--First Vice President Parviz Davoudi said on Saturday Iran and Malaysia enjoy abundant potential to expand mutual relations.
Pointing to the brotherly and friendly ties between Tehran and Kuala Lumpur, Davoudi added that Malaysia has always stood by Iran as a Muslim and friendly country in Asia, IRNA reported.
According to the Presidential Office’s Press Department, the Iranian first vice president made the remarks in a meeting with Malaysian minister in charge of investments, Dao Norovavi.
Referring to Malaysia’s presidency of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Davoudi said, “Islamic countries have ample potential for expansion of cooperation, which should be used in line with the interests of Muslim nations.“
He expressed Iran’s readiness to consolidate bilateral ties in different fields, including joint investment, modern technologies, telecommunications and housing.
For his part, the Malaysian minister expressed satisfaction with the growing trend of relations between Tehran and Kuala Lumpur, and said his country has no limitation on expansion of ties with Iran.
He added that Malaysia gives priority to promoting relations with Muslim states, particularly Iran.
Outlining Malaysian economic activities, especially joint investments in Iran, Norovavi said his country is ready to strengthen mutual ties in various fields.

TEHRAN, Nov. 10--Top Iranian diplomat in Beirut said the unfolding complex political situation in Lebanon can only be resolved through consensus among political leaders.
Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Sheibani reiterated on Friday that the Islamic Republic is making efforts to end the current political deadlock, IRNA reported. Sheibani made the comments in a meeting with leaders of the March 8 political group.
Lebanon’s Parliament will hold a session on Monday to discuss the next presidential elections.

TEHRAN, Nov. 10--Vice President for Women’s Affairs Zohreh Tabibzadeh Nouri urged the media on Saturday to reflect social realities wisely and honestly.
Speaking to IRNA on the sidelines of the ongoing 14th International Press and News Agencies Fair, Nouri said she prefers not to talk to newspapers that are dishonest.
“Those who work in the media should have a rich scientific background, as the public would strongly believe their words,“ she said.
The 14th Press and News Agencies Fair was inaugurated on Wednesday by Majlis Speaker Gholamali Haddad Adel and will continue till November 22.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10--US President George W. Bush ordered on Friday the extension of a freeze of Iranian government assets in the United States by another year, the White House said.
The sanctions against Iran was first ordered by former President Jimmy Carter on November 14, 1979, ten days after Iranian students took over the American Embassy in Tehran, Xinhua reported.
The United States renews the freeze of Iranian government assets every year since then.
Washington has no diplomatic relations with Tehran since April 1980, five months after Iranian students occupied the American Embassy in Tehran. Fifty-two Americans were held hostage for 444 days.