Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:07:08 +0200
Contact: Hossein Bastani, h.bastani@roozonline.com
Only three weeks after Ahmadinejad and his administration spokesperson claimed that American forces intended to “kidnap or assassinate him in Iraq,” Ahmadinejad identified the perpetrators of his accusation as “Palestinian, Iraqi, Afghan or American.” But that was not Ahmadinejad’s only strange remark in yesterday’s press conference, because he also welcomed the reopening of the U.S. Consulate Office in Iran and insisted that Ali Akbar Velayati, the supreme leader’s foreign policy advisor has no say on the nuclear issue.
The head of Iran’s ninth administration also indicated that his potential kidnappers chanted “anti-American and anti-Iranian” slogans while carrying out their operation. Previously, Ahmadinejad had claimed that “enemies planned to kidnap or assassinate him” in a gathering with a number of clerics from the Qom Seminary School Teachers’ Association, adding, “By changing one or two plans their operation was disrupted, and they only realized that after we had left Iraq.”
Supreme Leader’s Advisor is not Involved
In yesterday’s press conference, in addition to introducing new claims in connection with his previous kidnap and assassination plot, Ahmadinejad also responded to a question about the recent article of Ali Akbar Velayati, Ayatollah Khamenei’s foreign policy advisor, which received much worldwide attention. Ahmadinejad’s response was unprecedented in its kind.
Former foreign minister Velayati’s article was originally published in three European newspapers simultaneously, and was considered in democratic circles as the Iranian supreme leader’s decision to take full charge of the nuclear case and diffuse the crisis in a new way; especially since Velayati is his especial advisor in foreign affairs.
Ahmadinejad, however, had this to say about Velayati’s recent remarks: “Mr Velayati is an esteemed person. He has opinions and he states them. Everyone in the Islamic Republic of Iran is free to state their opinion. However, he is not involved in making decisions in the nuclear case.”
Also, commenting on positive interpretations of Iran’s recent position with regarding talks with the 5+1 Group (five UN Security Council members and Germany), Ahmadinejad said, “Some people wanted to organize a celebration and say that Iran had stepped back but their celebration did not last long.”
Verbally Welcoming Relations with America?
Nevertheless, despite his prior stance with respect to Velayati, Ahmadinejad did not oppose America’s presence in nuclear negotiations with Iran, adding, “If the Americans want to come too, they should come. We would not invite them… If America wants to enter negotiations, it must not set preconditions.”
Responding to another question about the ninth administration’s invitation of Houshang Amirahmadi to visit Iran, Ahmadinejad strongly denied secret attempts to establish relations with the United States, adding, “Iran does not need mediators to negotiate with America. Whenever is becomes necessary, we will negotiate with them directly… If it is necessary that we negotiate with the United States, and it is to the benefit of the Iranian nation, I will come myself and say that we will negotiate because it benefits the Iranian nation.”
In an unexpected move, Ahmadinejad welcomed the idea to “reopen America’s interest section in Tehran,” while at the same time denying receipt of any official offer in this respect: “Iran will consider the United States’ request to reopen that country’s interest section in Tehran and favors any action that would result in enhanced ties between nations of the world.”
Monday, July 14, 2008
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