Hariri to visit Iran, Mottaki says
Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki has said that Lebanese prime minister-designate Saad Hariri has been invited to visit Tehran.

He made the remarks at a press conference in Tehran on Monday on the sidelines of the 16th International Exhibition of Press and News Agencies.

In response to a Lebanese reporter who asked whether Iran has invited Hariri to visit Tehran, Mottaki replied that during his recent meeting with Hariri, many issues were discussed and he was invited to Iran. “We hope that the visit will be made at a proper time,” he added.

The Lebanese reporter also asked about the role of Iran in determining the make-up of Lebanon’s cabinet, and Mottaki said that Iran wants to see consensus among Lebanese groups but each nation must make its own decisions in selecting its government officials.

The reporter also asked if he thinks Israel will attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, and if so, how would Iran respond.

The Iranian foreign minister said that Israel is currently in its weakest position ever and cannot realize its aggressive goals.

However, Iran will be ready to give a crushing response to any insane move on the part of the Israelis, he added.

In response to a Brazilian reporter who asked if Tehran and Brasilia are going to increase their bilateral nuclear cooperation, Mottaki said that in the near future, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will make a trip to Brazil, on the Brazilian president’s invitation, and hopefully it will be a turning point in bilateral relations.

Last year the two countries’ foreign ministers exchanged visits to prepare the groundwork to enhance strategic ties, he noted.

On the nuclear issue, Mottaki said that Iran and Brazil have the same stance and recognize the inalienable right of nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signatories to utilize nuclear energy meant for peaceful purposes.

He went on to say that the Vienna talks over providing the Tehran reactor with nuclear fuel resumed last week.

Iran has announced it needs 20 percent enriched uranium for the Tehran reactor and received a proposal to receive the 20 percent enriched uranium in return for a consignment of about 5 percent enriched uranium, he added.

“We are examining the proposal and will respond soon.”

A Russian reporter asked his view about the anti-Russian slogans chanted by some post-election protestors.

Mottaki said Iran is a democratic country and different parties can express their own ideas about foreign policy, but the Iranian administration has a stable diplomatic relationship with Russia and the cooperation in the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant is a symbol of this.

On the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, Mottaki stated that India still has time to rejoin the project.

On China’s role in the nuclear negotiations, he said China is an important country that has access to nuclear technology, and if China is willing to provide Iran nuclear fuel, Iran will welcome the cooperation with China.

Mottaki also paid a visit to the Mehr News Agency and Tehran Times daily booth at the Tehran press fair.

An MNA reporter asked him about the results of the recent nuclear talks with the West and the possibility that there are ulterior motives behind their proposal.

“If we believe in the vigilance of the Islamic Republic’s diplomacy, we know that Iran will not get stuck in a trap,” he replied.

A Tehran Times reporter asked Mottaki about the recent terrorist attacks in Iraq.

He strongly condemned the terrorist acts in Iraq, saying, “We believe there are some ulterior motives behind these acts, the most important (being) an attempt by foreign forces in Iraq to prolong their presence in the country.

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