KARACHI, Feb 19: The Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Syed Musa Hossaini, on Monday warned of serious consequences if his country was attacked by any country and reiterated that Iran’s would continue its peaceful nuclear programme.
He was responding to questions during a meet the press at Karachi Press Club during which he also dwelt upon the evolving security situation in the West Asian region, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the composite dialogue between Islamabad and New Delhi.
Criticising the West, particularly the US, for practising double standards, he said Iran would defend itself with all the resources at its command.
Referring to a settlement between North Korea and the international community on the nuclear proliferation issue, he said Iran was being targeted because it is a Muslim country. This was being done despite the fact that Iran was a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and was cooperating with the IAEA. He accused the West of imposing unacceptable conditions on Iran, which he said were unacceptable.
He said that opposition to Iran’s nuclear programme was more political than technical. He said that Iran’s hydro-carbon resources were not going to last forever. He pointed out during the Shah’s reign, the US had offered to develop 20,000MW energy for Iran. But after the Islamic revolution this agreement was not honoured by the Americans. Now the Islamic government was being targeted for pursuing policies that were in the best interests of the Iranian people.
The Iranian consul general did not rule out the possibility of direct negotiations with Washington and future relations with the Zionist entity, once the Palestinian issue was resolved amicably.
“If a proper agenda is agreed upon without any pre-conditions and on the basis of sovereign equality, Iran will not shy away from negotiations,” said the Iranian Consul General.
Asked whether Iran would recognise Israel once the Palestinian issue was resolved, Mr Hussaini said the matter could only be resolved if it was acceptable to the Palestinian people. Replying to a question he said Iran was interested in peace and stability in Afghanistan because it would strengthen peace and prosperity in Iran as well. He said that Iran was trying, in its own way, to restore peace and stability in Afghanistan because it cannot afford instability along its border.
He did not agree with a questioner that by supporting the Bonn Agreement on Afghanistan, Iran had actually supported American policy. The Bonn Conference, he said was not organized by the US, but the international community. Iran he said had committed $500 million for Afghanistan’s rehabilitation.
To another query, he said Iran had no role in the resistance against foreign forces in Iraq and that the execution of Saddam Hussain was Iraq’s internal matter. He nevertheless recalled the use of deadly gas against Iran and his own people by the former Iraqi strongman.
Referring to the terrorist attack near Zahidan, he said that Iran was the victim of terrorism for a quarter of a century. He said that both Pakistan and Iran have agreed to set up a committee to deal with the menace and share information on terrorism. He said that some people had been arrested and nothing conclusive could be said about the findings at this stage. He said that summoning Pakistan’s envoy to the foreign ministry in Tehran was aimed at achieving that objective.
Referring to the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan, and the Kashmir issue, he said Tehran would accept any solution acceptable to India and Pakistan.
