HYDERABAD, Nov 24: Iranian Consul General in Pakistan Masood Mohammad Zamani on Saturday called for immediate withdrawal of American forces from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Speaking to journalists on his visit to the press club, Mr Zamani said that the two brave nations were capable of governing themselves and they did not need the United States to manage their internal affairs.

He said that despite sanctions slapped on the country immediately after the revolution Iran was progressing in every field by leaps and bounds.

He reaffirmed his country’s pledge to improve relations with Pakistan, which he said were stronger than ever. The two countries enjoyed solid bond of cultural, economic and political ties, he said.

He described Iran-Pakistan friendship as historic and said that Iran-Pakistan’s current trade volume stood at $700 million, which could be raised and he was specifically working on this task. Negotiations between the two countries on improving relations continued, he added.

He evaded a question about Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) saying that the two countries had a porous border and they could discuss if anything was needed to be discussed. He also avoided making any comment on the state of emergency in Pakistan on the ground that it was Pakistan’s internal matter.

About US pressure and Iran’s determination to acquire nuclear technology, Mr Zamani said that the programme continued despite US pressure. Iran’s nuclear programme had peaceful objectives and it was completely indigenous, he added.

He referred to a report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which he claimed had mentioned that Iran’s nuclear programme was for peaceful purposes.

“The sanctions are not uranium enrichment specific because these were imposed ever since Islamic revolution but we are progressing in the fields of education, science and medicine,” he said.

He said that Ayatullah Khomeini had made it clear that Iran’s revolution was aimed at uniting the Muslim Ummah and cautioned Islamic countries against the elements that might take undue advantage of their internal disorder.