TEHRAN -- Government spokesman Gholam-Hussein Elham said on Monday that Iran would enter into talks with the U.S. upon the request of the Iraqi government.

“What is important for us is the establishment of security and an independent system in Iraq based on the will of the Iraqi people,” Elham said in his weekly press briefing.

“Iraq is an Islamic country and our neighbor… and the peace, security and rights of its people should not be played with by foreign occupiers.”

He added that Iran would not withhold any effort to help end the occupation in Iraq.

“Iran’s humanitarian assistance to Iraq that is meant to help establish peace and security as well as an independent popular government in that country is based on the request of the Iraqi government and other Iraqi figures who have been elected by the people to form the new Iraqi administration.”

Elham noted that talks with the U.S. would merely focus on the situation in Iraq and not on any other issue, adding, “We need a neighbor that is not under pressure, threat and occupation.”

“What is important for us is to bring an end to the Iraqi occupation.

“The Americans have long been asking us to hold talks on Iraq but we have not and will not do anything without the request of Iraq.”

The only way for the U.S. to escape the current crisis in Iraq is to promptly withdraw from the country, the spokesman said, adding that as long as the U.S. stays in the Middle East, there will be no peace and security in the region.

“Resisting the global hegemony, pursuing legitimate demands and having a justice-based view which are some of the common principles among humans are part of the ideology of the Islamic Revolution which it will never renounce,” he stressed. Turning on the nuclear issue, Elham said, “Nuclear research activities are our inalienable right according to international law and suspending these activities which means renouncing our legal right is unjustifiable.”

“The Iranian government will not take any step which is against the country’s basic regulations and the demand and will of the nation, and making peaceful use of nuclear energy for the development of the country is a national demand.”

Enemy plans to create insecurity and disorder

On the terrorist attack on Thursday in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan which led to the killing of 22 people, the spokesman said that such incidents are supported by foreigners.

“There are reports and signs which show that creating insecurity and disorder in Iran is part of the aims of those who are against Iran’s security, development and independence.”

He noted that the government would take serious action against those who cruelly pursue the goals of the enemy to provoke internal disputes and create insecurity in Iran.

Intelligence and security officials are trying to track down and identify the perpetrators of this inhuman act and will seriously pursue the case until they reach a conclusion, he added.

Countering possible sanctions

Asked whether Iran had a plan to react to a possible measure by the U.S. to prevent countries from buying Iran’s oil in the international market, Elham said the Americans should realize that people become more united when they face foreign threats.

“If they are wise enough they will take an approach other than launching psychological warfare against Iran.”