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thr 119
Iran-Bush-Threats /POl/
Deputy FM: Bush's threats against Iran not credible
Tehran, Feb 26, IRNA -- Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African
Affairs Mohammad Sadr said here Tuesday that the contents of public
and confidential messages sent to high-ranking Iranian officials by
their foreign counterparts indicate that President Bush's threats
against Iran are not credible.
US president George Bush has branded Iran, Iraq and North korea as
the 'axis of evil' and has repeated charges against Iran in the past
few weeks.
Sadr further quoted foreign leaders as characterizing Bush's aims
as 'beating the drums of war', 'fishing in muddy waters' and
'contravening the most basic diplomatic norms'.
'Our information indicates that the Bush's statements were made in
response to clear incitements by the Zionist lobby in the US,' the
deputy foreign minister said.
He said the statements are rooted in the US declared intolerance
in seeing Iran exert an important role in the Muslim world and causing
it (US) to join hands with the Zionist lobby.
All positions taken by Iran vis-a-vis other nations are
articulated by the Leader, the President and the foreign ministry and
any other views or statements are considered 'personal' and 'do not
necessarily reflect the national stance', he said.
He further reiterated that irresponsible and hasty statements, the
roots and intentions of which are dubious, should be not be made.
The deputy foreign minister said it is neither prudent nor
acceptable to let individuals who has access to the press be allowed
to make comments which can rise tension and create misunderstanding.
'Those who beat the drums of war are unknowingly toeing the line
of the US and Israel which have always tried to ostracize Iran,' Sadr
noted.
Meanwhile, Bush's destructive 'axis of evil' accusation against
Iran, Iraq and North Korea has come under intense fire from many world
countries, including US allies.
Concerns are growing worldwide that 'the Americans are all out to
abuse their so-called war against terrorism to settle old scores',
warned `Iran Daily' in its perspective column last week.
French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine and EU Commissioner Chris
Patten branded the new Bush foreign policy as 'unilateralist,
simplistic and absolutist', wrote the paper.
Europe, the French foreign minister said, is 'threatened today by
a new simplism which consists in reducing everything to the war on
terrorism'.
In the wake of strong criticism from EU countries, US Secretary of
State Colin Powell sounded conciliatory. He insisted Washington has no
plans for any immediate military action against the three countries.
EU officials were quick to respond to Washington's 'unilaterist
overdrive' by saying it would in no way affect Brussels' engagement
and dialogue with Iran, the daily noted.
NB/AH
End
::irna 21:25
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