Mohammad Ali Hosseini

TEHRAN, Nov. 25--Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Sunday Tehran is studying an appropriate time for the next round of talks with the US related to Iraq.
Speaking at his weekly press conference, Hosseini rejected as preposterous repeated US allegations about Iran fueling unrest in the neighboring Arab country.
“It seems the Americans want to create an anti-Iran environment by making such baseless allegations.“
He condemned the non-stop anti-Iran propaganda by Americans in Iraq, and warned that Washington should “take into consideration Iraq’s security and stability more seriously.
During the past couple of days, US officials have made contradictory comments about Iran.“
Elaborating on the apparent desperation and confusion of the embattled Bush regime about how to fix the unfixable problem in Iraq, he said “some US military commanders and politicians have said Iran has played a positive role [in Iraq]. This is while after the latest explosion in Iraq other officers made different statements.“
Such “contradictory allegations are in line with and to complete US political propaganda against Iran,“ Hosseini said.
He said the time has come for the occupying power to give more voice and authority to Baghdad government and its security forces.
Regarding the nuclear issue Hosseini said Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili will make new proposals in his next round of talks in London with EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana.
“The statement by the EU on Iran’s nuclear program supports cooperation between Iran and the IAEA,“ he told the reporters.
In another part of the press conference he said Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will pay an official two-day visit to Iran on Monday.
Officials of the two countries are expected to discuss the latest developments in bilateral ties and ways to expand cooperation. The two sides will also sign documents on the construction of an electric power plant, shipping and customs as well as memoranda of understanding on expansion of cultural and commercial ties.
Referring to the upcoming US-sponsored conference on the Middle East to open Tuesday in the seaport of Annapolis, Hosseini noted that almost all similar conferences in the past had been theatrical and tailor-made to help defend Israeli interests. “Those meetings failed to restore the rights of the Palestinian people.“

BAGHDAD, Iraq,
Nov. 25--One of Iraq’s most influential Shiite politicians on Sunday defended Iran, saying the US needs “more proof“ that the Islamic republic is fomenting violence as the rival sides prepare for expected talks in Baghdad.
The comments by Abdul-Aziz Al-Hakim, who heads the Supreme Islamic Iraq Council, came days after he returned from Iran, where he has been periodically undergoing treatment for lung cancer, AP reported.
The US has accused of Iran of training and arming Shiite militias in Iraq.
“These are only accusations raised by the multinational forces and I think these accusations need more proof,“ Hakim said at a joint news conference with Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi.
But he noted Iran has long stated during meetings with officials “that their true will is to support the Iraqi government and to support stability and security in Iraq and to stand by the Iraqi people.“
“They have a long history of standing by the Iraqi people and that is their official stance that is presented to the press without any hesitation,“ he said.
Iraqi politicians face a difficult balance in managing their relations with neighboring Iran, where the majority of the population is also Shiite Muslim, and its chief sponsor the United States.
The two rival countries have agreed to hold a fourth ambassador-level round of talks on security in Iraq but no date has been set.
“We will work for the success of these talks so they will go well and the conclusions be positive and of benefit for all and in particular the Iraqi people,“ Hakim said.

Talabani Meeting
In another development, Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad met Iraqi President Jalal Talabani for discussions on major security and political issues.
The Iraqi president’s office issued a statement on Saturday announcing that Hassan Kazemi-Qomi had met with Jalal Talabani at the president’s residence in Baghdad and discussed political and security issues with him, Presstv reported.
During the meeting, which was also attended by Talabani’s chief advisor, Fakhri Karim, the two sides talked on the importance of expanding bilateral relations, it said.
According to the statement, Kazemi-Qomi emphasized Iran’s support for the political process in Iraq as well as measures that guarantee the country’s security and stability.

Mass Grave
A mass grave containing 30 corpses of people killed during the Iran-Iraq war, including Iranian soldiers, was found on Sunday near the southern Iraqi port city of Basra, officials said.
Mahdi Al-Timimi, an official with a local human rights group in Basra, said the grave was uncovered in Al-Zubair town, east of Basra city.
“Several local people discovered the grave after which we sent our team to the site and found 30 corpses, including those of Iranian soldiers,“ he said. “The team was able to identify the Iranian soldiers from their identity tags.“
The Iran-Iraq war raged from 1980 to 1988 during which more than a million people were killed on both sides.

KUWAIT CITY, Nov. 25--Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki met with Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah here on Sunday and submitted a massage from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Referring to close relations between the two Persian Gulf neighbors, Mottaki called for further elevation of cooperation in areas of mutual interest, IRNA reported.
In another part of his comment, he referred to Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and noted that the interaction helped to show the peaceful nature of the nuclear program.
“Iran intends to remove all ambiguities pertaining to its nuclear activities,“ he said.
The Kuwaiti leader expressed satisfaction over the improving trend in two-way ties.
Welcoming Iran’s cooperation with IAEA, he said members of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council also have plans to acquire nuclear energy under supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog.
Mottaki arrived in Kuwait city late Saturday at the head of a high-ranking delegation and was welcomed by his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Muhammad Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah.
“Instability in Iraq has affected Iran and Kuwait more than any other country,“ the minister and noted that it is natural that the Iraqi situation will be discussed with Kuwaiti authorities.
Cooperation between Iran and six-nation PGCC states is also on the agenda, he said.

Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari (l) is seen at Iran Cultural and Press Institute (ICPI) on Sunday.

TEHRAN, Nov. 25--A senior military commander said on Sunday movements of all foreign forces in the Persian Gulf are being monitored closely.
During a visit to Iran Cultural and Press Institute (ICPI) to which Iran Daily also belongs, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said hostile western powers are waging a failed media war to justify their illegal and dangerous presence in the strategic waterway.
“We will not allow the slightest transgression of our water frontiers,“ he said.
Sayyari also said the country has reached self-sufficiency in building light-class submarines through indigenous technology.
“The Iran-made submarine “Qadir“ will be launched in the Persian Gulf on Nov.28 concurrent with the Navy Day,“ he said.
“The entire state-of-the-art technology for manufacturing the sub was developed by Iranian engineers in line with global standards. “
He denied claims that the technology for the submarine was imported, and noted that Qadir had undergone several tests with positive results.
“Despite [US] sanctions in the years after the [1979] Islamic Revolution and complications of the eight-year Iraqi-imposed war, Iran’s Navy acquired a high level of knowledge and capability to produce marine paraphernalia, particularly in the sub-surface area.“
He also expressed satisfaction over the quality of interaction of the academia and defense industries with his organization, and said research is underway to produce semi-heavy subs and other classes.
Thanks to the experience of the marine corps during the 1980-88 military conflict with Iraq, Iranian experts now have access to the technology for producing missile launchers, marine radar systems, warships and submarines in different types, he told the ’Iran’ editors and managers.

TEHRAN, Nov. 25--Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hossein Saffar Harandi said in Libya Sunday that one urgent responsibility for helping understand today’s realities is to have an independent media without relying on unfriendly news organizations.
Speaking at a meeting of culture ministers from the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in Tripoli, he noted that the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and its cultural, scientific and educational institutions are the most suitable forums for dialogue and consolidating unity among the Muslim Ummah at large, Fars News Agency reported.
“The rulings and resolutions by ISESCO in different eras, as well as its meetings show the relative success of its member states in achieving their key objectives,“ he added.
The Muslim world is facing a litany of challenges and opportunities that should help Muslims to take the right decisions based on realities.

Khurshid Anwar

TEHRAN, Nov. 25--Secretary-General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) said Sunday trade is his organization’s top priority.
Speaking at a news conference to mark the anniversary of ECO, Khurshid Anwar said the group intends to establish a free trade zone by 2015.
According to the ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) 80 percent tariffs on commercial goods should be cut to 15 percent over eight years, he said.
“We are trying to remove non-tariff barriers and that is why we are cooperating with the United Nations Industrial and Development Organization (UNIDO).“
Anwar noted that five ECO states have already ratified ECOTA and others are in the final stages of approving the same that will help pave the way for higher levels of trade and economic exchanges between the 10-nation regional bloc.
“Gross domestic product of the ECO countries reached $891 billion in 2006 and its average economic growth rate was 6.9 percent,“ he added.
Anwar complained that the majority of trade of ECO members is with non-ECO countries while a paltry seven percent is conducted within the ECO region.
He referred to the newly-established ECO Trade and Development Bank in Istanbul with a paid up capital of $300 million, and the ECO Insurance Company set up with the same amount in Karachi as two institutions founded to promote inter-ECO trade development.
Terming transport as another ECO priority, Anwar pointed out that with implementation of the Transit Transportation Framework Agreement in May 2006 an important step has been taken for consolidating ECO communication links.
Formed in 1985, ECO members include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.