TEHRAN - Iran has announced it will attend the international conference on Afghanistan in London later this month if it is allowed to play an important role.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has invited Afghan President Hamid Karzai, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, NATO allies, Afghanistan’s neighbors, regional powers, and key international bodies to a conference in London on January 28 to set a political and security timetable for Afghanistan for 2010 and beyond. The task includes setting out a roadmap for Afghan forces to gradually take over more security responsibilities, and refining an exit strategy for NATO forces.
“If the agenda of the London conference is clear and Iran’s role in the conference is highlighted, (we) will study the request for (Iran’s) participation in the conference with a positive outlook,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters during his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
Iran will address border issues with Iraq based on Algiers Agreement
Iran will address the border issues with Iraq based on the Algiers Agreement, which was signed by the two countries in 1975, Mehmanparast explained.
The Algiers Agreement was an agreement between Iran and Iraq to settle their border disputes (such as the Shatt al-Arab -- known as the Arvand Rud in Iran -- and Khuzestan), and served as the basis for the bilateral treaties signed on June 13 and December 26, 1975.
Iran has made a proposal calling for the establishment of a joint committee with Iraq to demarcate the border between the two countries based on the Algiers Agreement and to prevent any misunderstandings on the issue, Mehmanparast added.
He expressed hope that the Iraqi government would agree to the establishment of a committee for addressing border issues.
Iran will respond to Saudi request about individual at embassy
Mehmanparast also said Iran will respond to Saudi Arabia’s request to allow a person who is in the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Tehran and who claims to be Osama bin Laden’s daughter to legally leave the country.
“Claims have been made about the identity of this person, but in consideration of the Saudi Arabian government’s request, Iran will take measures in this regard with a humanitarian view,” he stated.
On December 23, a Saudi-owned newspaper reported that a daughter of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had taken refuge in the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Tehran.
Iran has no plan to downgrade ties with Britain
Mehmanparast also said Tehran has no plan to downgrade its diplomatic relations with London.
Increasing or decreasing the level of ties between nations requires a long process and the various aspects of such a move have to be taken into consideration, he added.
On December 16, the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee urged the Foreign Ministry to reduce the level of diplomatic relations with the British government due to its hostile attitude toward Iran.
Yemeni ambassador not summoned
The Foreign Ministry spokesman dismissed media reports claiming that Iran has summoned the Yemeni ambassador to Tehran and that Yemen has made a reciprocal move.
“I have not heard anything, but unfortunately, some embassies have been closed due to insecurity in Yemen,” he added.
He also expressed hope that the crises in Yemen would be resolved through negotiations.
The Yemeni army has been in a military conflict with a segment of the country’s Shia population, who took up arms to try to reverse the political, economic, and religious marginalization of their Zaidi Shia community, since last August.
No request for Kerry visit
Mehmanparast also said that Iran has not received any official request from U.S. Senator John Kerry to visit Tehran.
“Whenever Iran receives an official request, it will be reviewed by the relevant authority, which is the Majlis,” he stated