Larijani: Kidnapping of Iranian diplomats to be pursued seriously
Tehran, Jan 25, IRNA
Iran-Larijani-Nuclear
Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani said here Thursday that Iran will seriously pursue the case of Iranian diplomats kidnapped by US troops in northern Iraq.
Larijani made the remark, while speaking to reporters at Mehrabad International Airport, where he saw off his Saudi counterpart, Bandar bin Sultan.
He added that continued attempts are underway to solve the issue soon and release the kidnapped Iranian diplomats.
Larijani assessed the cooperation of Iraqi government and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maleki in this regard as favorable.
In response to a question about the deadlock specified in the UNSC Resolution 1737, he said that Iran's nuclear path is quite clear.
"Since the beginning, Iran believed that its nuclear case is a legal and technical issue and that adventurous moves to place it on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council can certainly not have an impact on our will," he added.
Underlining that Iran will continue its nuclear course under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he said that talks on the issue are currently underway and that talks should be resumed by those who have suspended negotiations.
He expressed confidence that the parties aiming to make a crisis over the issue will get nowhere.
He rejected rumors about the possible replacement of Iran's nuclear negotiating team.
"Talks are currently underway between Iran's Foreign Ministry and France and representatives of French government are expected to be dispatched to Iran for continuing negotiation on the issue," he said in response to a question about the visit of a French delegation to Iran.
About his talks with Bandar bin Sultan and the common points between the two sides, he said, "Naturally, decision made by world countries are based on their own interests, but Iran and Saudi Arabia have many common interests.
"In addition to Saudi Arabia, Iran is holding talks with other regional states on matters of mutual concern."
Turning to Saudi Arabia as a significant country in the region, he said that the two countries have favorable common views in some fields.
The SNSC secretary stressed that both Iran and Saudi Arabia are determined to avoid flaming factional discord, adding Shiites and Sunnis are Muslims as well as each others' brothers.
"Iran and Saudi Arabia can further expand their cooperation in common grounds," said Larijani.
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-236/0701256443163215.htm
Short memory these A-holes have. I seem to remember a little incident back in the late 1970s when the immortal Jimmy Carter was High Commissar of the Leftists and the Iranians held our embassy folks for 444 days. Very short memory banks on how they raided our embassy.