Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said Wednesday that recent remarks by the US Secretary of State
Colin Powell on Iran was a source of disgrace for the US administration before world public opinion in general and the Islamic states in particular.
Asefi's comments came a day after Powell claimed at a joint press conference with the Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom in Washington that Iran was "pursuing nuclear weapons development, or worse, acquiring a nuclear weapon."
"The US is not following an independent policy towards Iran's nuclear programs but instead is toeing the line of the Zionist regime in this regard," said the FM spokesman.
He further noted that by raising claims about Tehran's attempts to develop nuclear weapons, Shalom was seeking to overshadow nuclear activities of Israel and preventing its nuclear secrets from being disclosed to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
"The Zionist foreign minister made baseless claims simultaneously with a visit to the occupied Palestine by the IAEA chief in a bid to conceal Israeli plans to develop nuclear weapons and divert the international public opinion from dangerous nature of Tel Aviv's nuclear programs, the spokesman added.
He further argued that "the Zionist regime's refusal to disclose its nuclear plans to the UN nuclear watchdog clearly indicates that it was stubbornly disregarding its commitments and avoiding transparent cooperation with the IAEA.
Asefi also noted that Israel's impudent reactions to the international demands for divulging its nuclear plans was a result of the US overt and covert supports for the "Zionist regime." (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
