TEHRAN, Aug 13: Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on Wednesday rejected a proposal allowing US investigators to come to Iran to question suspected members of Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network detained here.

Khatami, who spoke following a cabinet meeting, was responding to a question as to whether such a solution might be resorted to end the impasse over Al Qaeda members held by Tehran.

His response was “no.” “There is no discussion with the United States,” he added. “Al Qaeda members in our custody will be questioned. If they should be tried (in Iran) they will be. If they should be deported, they will be”.

“We will arrest all members of Al Qaeda members we find. They animosity to us is nothing compared with their animosity to the United States,” he added.

Tehran began talks with their home countries to extradite them where possible, but has also reserved the right to try a certain number itself.

US officials say Kuwaiti-born Al Qaeda spokesman Sulaiman Abu Gaith; Osama bin Laden’s son, Saad; and Jordanian Abu Masab al-Zarwaqi, a close aide to Osama, are among those under arrest in Iran.

Tehran has faced immense difficulties in its bid to extradite the suspects.

In addition, Iran has only limited diplomatic relations with Egypt, making it probable that Egyptian Saif al-Adel, the third-ranking member of Al Qaeda, also believed to be under arrest, will remain in Iran.—AFP