Ali Larijani attends a session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos in Jan. 24, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
TEHRAN, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said Thursday that the proposal to establish a U.S. diplomatic interests section in Tehran is a "deceitful move".
"I do not like to talk about rumors but it seems that some of these rumors are very sneaky," the official IRNA news agency quoted Larijani as saying, when responding to reports on building U.S. diplomatic presence in Tehran.
Americans are not honest in their words, Larijani said, adding that they would have accepted a request by Iranian government in 2006 for direct flights between the two countries.
Earlier, several media reported that the U.S. was considering requested for an interests section in Tehran to process Iranian visa applications to the U.S. and to serve as an American cultural center despite 30 years of severed ties between the two countries.
Currently, the Swiss embassy in Tehran houses a U.S. special interests section to communicate messages from Washington to Iran and to handle the affairs of U.S. citizens inside the Islamic Republic.
U.S. State Secretary Condoleezza Rice declined to confirm or deny the proposal but said that Washington was eager to allow more Iranians to visit the States.
At a news briefing Tuesday, U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey also reiterated that despite its differences with the Iranian government the United States was looking for ways to reach out to Iran's citizens.
TEHRAN, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that hegemonic powers cannot impede the country's accomplishments in nuclear technology, Iran's Press TV satellite channel reported.
The enemies have not been able to prevent Iran from moving forward in nuclear technology, Ahmadinejad said in Iran's western province of Kermanshah. Full story
TEHRAN, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani warned here on Thursday that the West will suffer if it continues to speak with Iran in the language of force, saying that pressuring Iran is a mistake, Iran's Press TV satellite channel reported.
Speaking at a commemoration ceremony for the martyrs in a bombing, Larijani accused the western powers of practicing "cruel methods" to curb Iran's technological advancement by unjustly taking advantage of nuclear and human rights issues. Full story
WASHINGTON, June 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, Michael Mullen, was expected to visit Israel to discuss topics including Iran nuclear issue, the defense department said on Wednesday. Full story
WASHINGTON, June 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush believes the Iran's nuclear issue can be solved diplomatically, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Wednesday.
"What I can tell you is President Bush believes that we can solve this issue diplomatically, and that everyone's preference is to solve it diplomatically, not just in the United States, but with our allies and certainly with Israel," Perino said at the daily briefing. Full story
TEHRAN, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani said on Wednesday the West should seriously heed IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei's warnings and prevent provoking Iran, the Press TV satellite channel reported.
"There is little chance for interaction. You have reached the final minutes of your defeated game," Larijani rhetorically addressed Western powers during a Majlis open session in Tehran on Wednesday. Full story
GENEVA, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The European Union will continue to pursue a "duel strategy" of negotiations and sanctions on Iran's nuclear activity, the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana said here on Wednesday.
"With Iran, we have a dual strategy: on the one hand negotiations ... and at the same time action through the United Nations," Solana told reporters after addressing a disarmament conference in Geneva. Full story
VIENNA, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Safari has said Iran would withdraw money from European Union (EU) countries and invest in other regions in response to EU sanctions against Iran.
In an interview published by the Austrian newspaper "Die Presse" Wednesday, Safari pointed out that the EU's sanctions against Iran would lead to serious consequences, namely Iran withdrawing money from EU countries. Full story
TEHRAN, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said on Monday that the Zionist regime is not in a position to make threats against Iran.
Israel has not enough capacity to threaten Iran, Hosseini told reporters at his weekly press conference. Full story
