Iran seeks answers over Blair remarks
The Iranian government has summoned Britain’s ambassador to Tehran, Richard Dalton, to explain comments made by prime minister Tony Blair about the country’s nuclear programme.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi spoke about the governments ”displeasure” over reported comments made by Blair, saying military action in Iraq had forced Iran into greater cooperation with the international community.
”We do not accept this kind of thinking and we think it is very ugly for a politician who is encountering problems in his own country as well as in Iraq to start accusing others,” said Asefi.
Nuclear
In September, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) imposed a one-month deadline for Iran to fully disclose details of its nuclear programme.
Iran was also urged to sign the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), allowing tougher inspections by the UN watchdog.
Tehran had rejected the deadline initially but then, 10 days before the deadline expired, the Islamic Republic accepted closer inspections.
The decision followed an unprecedented joint visit by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, French Foreign Minster Dominique de Villepin and German Foreign Minister Joshka Fisher.