Iran has a policy of "active neutrality" over the US-Iraq crisis, a foreign ministry spokesman said Monday, insisting that it was up to Baghdad to avert a war.
"Iran's policy towards the Iraqi issue is active neutrality," Hamid-Reza Asefi told reporters following a visit to Tehran by Saddam Hussein's Foreign Minister Naji Sabri.
"The best policy is active presence and lobbying with all sides to prevent another war in the region," he added. Asefi did not elaborate on "active neutrality", however his comments follow weeks of assertions from senior Iranian officials that while seeking to rally diplomatic opposition to a US attack, Iran does not intend to become embroiled in a conflict with Washington.
Officials in Tehran have also asserted that the Islamic republic's armed forces are at the ready, that the US should respect the "red line" of Iran's border with Iraq, and that Baghdad must readmit United Nations weapons inspectors, according to AFP.
Asefi said the Iraqi foreign minister was bluntly told during the weekend visit in the Iranian capital that "it is up to Iraq to not let the situation get more complicated in the region".
He added that issues including pilgrims and outstanding problems relating to the neighbors' 1980-1988 war were also dealt with during the talks between Sabri and his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharazi and President Mohammad Khatami. Foreign Minister Sabri returned to Baghdad early Monday. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
