Iranian FM sees no chance of mending fences with US
Iran's foreign minister urged the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to "correct their past mistakes" and draw up a resolution ending council involvement in his country's nuclear affairs.
By Agencies |
DAVOS: Iran's foreign minister urged the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to "correct their past mistakes" and draw up a resolution ending council involvement in his country's nuclear affairs.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki yesterday said that while it makes sense to talk with Washington over common interests such as Iraq, he could not imagine substantially improved ties with the United States even after a change in US administrations.
Mottaki spoke to The Associated Press on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, the Davos gathering of world political and economic leaders, whose focus on areas of international concern include the Mideast.
Earlier in the week, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni urged Davos attendees to take a personal stand against Iran's leadership by ending business ties with the country.
"Iran exports terrorism, destabilizes the region, denies the Holocaust and threatens to wipe Israel, my home, off the map," said Livni, referring to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's frequent calls for the elimination of Jewish state.
Mottaki's call for an end to a Security Council role in trying to pressure Iran comes amid indications that the council is moving precisely in the other direction and is ready to pass a third round of sanctions for Tehran's refusal to mothball uranium enrichment and meet related demands.
Asked what his message to the council was, Mottaki said, "it was time now to correct their previous mistakes" -- involving itself in Tehran's nuclear program and passing the two sanctions resolutions. Formal bilateral ties between the two were cut in the wake of the 1979 Iranian hostage taking of US Embassy personnel.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki yesterday said that while it makes sense to talk with Washington over common interests such as Iraq, he could not imagine substantially improved ties with the United States even after a change in US administrations.
Mottaki spoke to The Associated Press on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, the Davos gathering of world political and economic leaders, whose focus on areas of international concern include the Mideast.
Earlier in the week, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni urged Davos attendees to take a personal stand against Iran's leadership by ending business ties with the country.
"Iran exports terrorism, destabilizes the region, denies the Holocaust and threatens to wipe Israel, my home, off the map," said Livni, referring to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's frequent calls for the elimination of Jewish state.
Mottaki's call for an end to a Security Council role in trying to pressure Iran comes amid indications that the council is moving precisely in the other direction and is ready to pass a third round of sanctions for Tehran's refusal to mothball uranium enrichment and meet related demands.
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Asked what his message to the council was, Mottaki said, "it was time now to correct their previous mistakes" -- involving itself in Tehran's nuclear program and passing the two sanctions resolutions. Formal bilateral ties between the two were cut in the wake of the 1979 Iranian hostage taking of US Embassy personnel.
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