Iran and Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation against the terror threats faced by the two sides.
The document was a product of the 12th Turkey-Iran High Security Commission meeting in Ankara earlier this week, the Interior Ministry in Ankara announced Thursday, Today’s Zaman daily reported.
During the two-day meeting, officials from the two sides studied joint efforts to deal with terrorist threats posed by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK), a PKK offshoot operating in Iran.
“Escalation in terrorist activities in the region is harming both countries. The most effective method for dealing with this problem is sharing intelligence and cooperation in security affairs,“ the MoU said. It was signed by Abbas Mohtaj, Iran’s deputy interior minister for security and political affairs, and Turkey’s Interior Ministry Undersecretary Osman GŸne¼.
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Turkey-Iran High Security Commission meet again in Tehran next month.
The last meeting was held in February 2006 in Tehran. Iran, fighting the PJAK since 2004, has long accused the United States of supporting banned anti-Iranian groups. The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by the international community, including the European Union and the United States.
US officials have repeatedly said the Bush regime considers both the PKK and PJAK to be terrorist organizations, and stress that the US would not get involved in any contact or relations with terrorists.

Defense Minister Mostafa Najjar said Iran’s military doctrine is based on deterrence.
Speaking to IRNA in Tehran on Thursday, Najjar said Iran’s defense industry is geared to self-defense, building stability and calm, and fighting aggression.
His ministry is powerful enough to maintain national security, IRNA quoted him as saying.
“Iran’s policy is based on cordial ties with neighbors, especially the Persian Gulf littoral states. It’s (Iran’s) 30-year performance demonstrates that it has always been an advocated of peace and stability,“ the defense chief said.
The minister held occupying powers responsible for insecurity in the neighboring states and said, “Insecurity in the neighboring countries including Iraq and Afghanistan has been caused by the occupiers, especially the US, who are killing people under the false pretext of promoting freedom and democracy.“
He said Iran’s defense equipment has been indigenized.
“Producing our own (military) needs is our target, and we have also exported,“ he said without elaboration.

A senior cleric on Friday said Iran should have the most experienced, pious, and well-equipped military force so that no one would contemplate violating the territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic.
Referring to the achievements of the army, interim Tehran Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati emphasized the need for reviving the culture of monotheism among the all Iranians, IRNA reported.
“The equipment used in military operations is nothing but a means. To achieve self-sufficiency and independence everyone should be mobilized because victory is a gift from God.“
Addressing the weekly congregation at Tehran University campus, the secretary of the powerful Guardians Council added that Iran should emerge as a military superpower to defend all Muslims.
“In the not too distant future, we should reach a point where we have the most powerful military equipment in the world so that no one even thinks about invading our borders,
not only that of the Islamic republic, but the world of Islam ... We must defend the oppressed Muslims everywhere so that the enemies do not dare attack Afghanistan, Palestine and Iraq.“
On the annual Army Day celebrations in Tehran on Thursday, dozens of fighter jets and other aircraft flew over the parade ground in a rare show of military power.
Congratulating the nation on Army Day, the ayatollah addressed the armed forces and said
“On behalf the nation, I hereby thank you for creating pride and grandeur, and are the cause for our prosperity and independence.“
The cleric concluded by saying that “Achievements we have spoken about are definitely not inclusive of our Army’s entire achievements.“

The Interior Ministry announced that 162 candidates have launched their electoral campaign for the second round of parliamentary elections.
Contest for the remaining parliamentary seats began on Thursday in 21 provinces, IRNA reported.
The campaign will end at 8:00 AM local time on April 24, said Mohammad-Hussein Mousapour, head of the Information Council of the ministry.
Only 82 of the 162 contenders will enter the 290-member parliament in the second round.
Mousapour noted that the Guardians Council has approved the reliability of the March parliamentary vote. The second round of parliamentary elections is slated for April 25.

The Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned the “merciless“ massacre of innocent Gazans by Israeli troops, calling it another valid proof of the terrorist and inhuman nature of the occupying power.
Referring to shocking scenes of the incursion of Israeli tanks into Gaza, the ministry’s spokesman, Mohammad-Ali Husseini said the international community’s disturbing silence and US support for the non-stop Israeli crimes are in stark contradiction with the human rights preached by western powers for decades, IRNA reported.
On Thursday, at least 20 Palestinians, including a cameraman for an international news agency, were killed in an Israeli helicopter-backed incursion that marked the deadliest day in the Hamas-ruled territory in weeks.
The heinous Israeli crimes in Gaza against defenseless civilians and non-combatants in Gaza and other occupied territories, plus the UN Security Council’s inaction has indeed shocked and disappointed the comity of nations, the news agency quoted him as saying.
He once again urged Muslim nations and states to embark on meaningful efforts to help stop the Zionist crimes.

Mehdi Safari

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Safari met senior German officials in Berlin on Thursday, including his counterparts in the foreign and interior ministries, IRNA reported.
During the meeting, Safari reiterated Tehran’s commitment to help safeguard peace and stability in the volatile Middle East region.
On Iran’s right to a civilian nuclear program, the senior diplomat said Tehran is ready to address the nuclear issue within the framework of modalities as agreed upon by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Germany’s Deputy Foreign Minister Reinhard Silberberg emphasized the need for a peaceful settlement to the nuclear issue.
Inn his talks with the German deputy interior minister, August Hanning, Safari stressed the need for promoting two-way collaboration to combat drug smuggling from Afghanistan.
Safari called on other European Union states to boost their efforts to fight narco-teror.
Safari also met with a legislator from the Christian Democratic Union, Eckart von Klaeden.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expand bilateral parliamentary relations.
Meanwhile, Safari said Berlin’s participation in western sanctions against Tehran is not hurting Iran because competitors from Asia are filling the gaps, AP reported.
He told reporters in Berlin Friday that Iran’s trade with Asia and Pacific nations has more than doubled in the past three years, and reached $90 billion in 2007. It is expected to grow to more than $100 billion this year.
Safari noted that trade with Germany and other European nations had shrunk.
German firms have reduced trade with Iran by more than 7 percent in the past year in an effort to force Tehran to halt its nuclear program.

The British sailors wave following their release in Tehran, April 4, 2007.

Compiled by Davood Baqeri

An internal military report in the UK says that 15 British Navy personnel captured by Iran may have been seized in a disputed area, not in Iraqi waters.
At the time of the incident last year, the British government insisted Iranian security forces boarded a British vessel that was 2 miles from the dividing line, UPI reported.
The Daily Telegraph reported it had obtained an internal document that said the boat may have been in an area claimed by both countries.
The 15 British sailors and marines were seized on March 23 near the Arvand Roud waterway which divides Iran and Iraq, and were released nearly two weeks later. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered their release after several publicly confessed to violating Iranian waters.
Meanwhile, the British defense ministry on Thursday rejected a report that Defense Secretary Des Browne misrepresented details of the seizure of 15 British troops by Iran last year.
The Times newspaper also, citing internal ministry documents, said the group of sailors and marines were in disputed maritime territory when they were captured last March, not in Iraqi waters as Browne told the House of Commons.
According to the paper--quoting documents obtained under freedom of information laws--the Britons were captured because the US-led coalition in Iraq had unilaterally designated a maritime border without informing Iran.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defense acknowledged that “the boundary between Iraqi and Iranian waters has long been disputed,“ but added that “this was not the basis for the dispute with Iran.“
“The Secretary of State for Defense told parliament on 16 June 2007 that there was no doubt the incident took place in Iraqi waters. That statement was correct in every regard,“ the statement said.
A spokesman for the ministry told AFP that the co-ordinates where the sailors were captured “were well outside that disputed area“ and the details about the disputed Iraq-Iran maritime boundary was included in the internal ministry documents only as “an important point of background.“
He said that the ministry had written to The Times to complain about the report.
Last June, a report by the former head of the Royal Marines, Rob Fulton, found the capture was down to no individual human error, but a series of shortcomings.

Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Reza Sheibani said Thursday Tehran is ready to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Syria if requested.
He made the remark after a meeting with the leader of the Lebanese National Party Michel Aoun, IRNA reported.
Deteriorating ties between the two Arab states have had serious consequences for Lebanon as its political future remains uncertain due to the inability of the political parties to forge a consensus on the next president.
Riyadh and Damascus have openly traded accusations over Middle East policy in general and Lebanon in particular. Regional observers have expressed serious concerns over the new inter-Arab hostilities and its potential to further harm the strategic but crisis-infested region.
In talks with Aoun the two sides reviewed regional developments including those in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon, and issues of mutual interest and concern.
On Tuesday Sheibani called on the embattled Prime Minister Fuad Siniora who is fighting for his own survival and is embroiled in a major crisis with the majority of the opposition parties over how to run the country. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sheibani said the two discussed ways to promote two-way relations.
Stressing Tehran’s support for resolving the Lebanese political crisis over the election of a new president through diplomatic efforts, he said Iran respects the official institutions of that country and its constitution.
Commenting on the pro-western Siniora’s reported visit to Iran , the envoy said Tehran will welcome such a visit if it helps find the much-delayed solution to the country’s crisis.

Iran’s UN Mission on Thursday rejected allegations by US officials that the country is supporting the insurgency in Iraq , calling the claims “unfounded“ and “baseless.“
The mission cited “false“ allegations against Iran by senior US officials including by George Bush at recent US Congressional hearings, AP reported.
Last week, Gen. David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, told Congress that Iranian-backed “special groups“ pose “the greatest long-term threat to the viability of a democratic Iraq“ if unchecked.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates claimed the US will be as aggressive as possible to counter the increase in Iranian support for militias.
Earlier this year, Bush also claimed “Iran funds militant groups and sends arms to Shiite extremists in Iraq.“
In its statement responding to allegations about its relations with Iraq, Iran’s UN Mission said these “allegations are but futile efforts to distract the international community’s attention, along with that of the US public opinion.’’
“Iran stands to highly benefit from stability, security and prosperity in Iraq, as it will immensely suffer from insecurity and instability in that country,“ the mission said.
Iran issued the statement a week before Iran attends a conference of Iraq’s neighbors in Kuwait.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Iran Thursday to end its backing for Shia militias. Iran’s UN Mission said the country’s best interest lies in a democratic and prosperous Iraq at peace with itself.
“Therefore we reject the baseless allegations that have been made against Iran by US officials with regard to Iraq,’’ it said, adding that no evidence has been presented to corroborate the claims.
“Iran has taken various concrete steps to help the Iraqi government to bring about stability...and has been unequivocal in both its strong support for stability and national unity in Iraq and in its condemnation of any efforts to cause instability, insecurity and sectarian violence and terrorism in the country,’’ it said.

Iran is making slow progress in enriching uranium for use in nuclear applications, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in Berlin Thursday.
IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei said the UN nuclear watchdog was well informed on the current situation in Iran, DPA reported.
An IAEA delegation would visit Iran next week to probe whether the country possessed a particular suspect nuclear system. If it did, the system would have to be dismantled, ElBaradei said.
Iran says it wants to produce nuclear fuel only for electricity so it can export more oil.
In Vienna, an IAEA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the delegation would be headed by Olli Heinnen, one of ElBaradei’s deputies and head of the unit that investigates whether countries have secret nuclear programs.
ElBaradei repeated his call for Tehran to sign the additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that provides snap IAEA inspections.
Tehran’s enrichment program was based on the first-generation centrifuges of the P1 type, although research was underway into developing more sophisticated centrifuges, he said after meeting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Iran had increased the number of its centrifuges from 3,000 to 3,300 or 3,400, ElBaradei said.

Call for Talks
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog called on Iran to enter into negotiations over its nuclear program with members of the international community.
ElBaradei added that Iran should negotiate over its nuclear program in order to regain the trust of international powers that Tehran is not developing atomic weapons.
Steinmeier also told reporters Thursday that Iran has entered into dialogue with ElBaradei’s International Atomic Energy Agency but refused to speak to representatives of the six countries that have led diplomatic efforts to rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
He noted that work was underway on a new dialogue proposal but it was not certain whether Tehran would accept it.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council--the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France--along with Germany have been seeking to pressure Tehran to suspend its civilian nuclear program and stop enriching uranium.