Tehran -  Iran advises the West to abandon its confrontational policy toward the Islamic Republic since the sanctions policy is a failed policy, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said here on Monday.

The confrontational policy toward Iran, which includes the push for tougher sanctions targeting the country’s energy sector, has gotten nowhere, so the West should adopt an interactive policy toward Iran, Qashqavi told reporters at his weekly press briefing.

 

He urged Western countries to reconsider their approach to the Islamic Republic, saying, “Experience has proven that tougher sanctions won’t prevent the Iranian nation from seeking their legitimate rights.”

 

“The sanctions policy toward Iran’s civilian nuclear program is a failed policy and nothing can prevent us from seeking our inalienable right to” gain access to nuclear technology meant for peaceful purposes, Qashqavi stated, adding, “The Iranian nation will forcefully resist the confrontational policy.” 

 

Commenting on German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s recent remarks, the Foreign Ministry spokesman took a swipe at her policy toward Iran and said that meddling in Iran’s internal affairs is not beneficial for international relations.

 

In an interview published on Thursday in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Merkel said that any new rounds of sanctions regarding Iran’s nuclear activities should mainly target its energy sector. “If there is no progress, we would have to react with further sanctions.”

 

The Iranian nation is fully aware of what has happened in Germany’s courts, Qashqavi said and advised Merkel to adopt a realistic stance toward the Islamic Republic.

 

The United States, Britain, France, and Germany are planning to hold high-level talks on Iran’s nuclear program with Russia and China on September 2 in a bid to convince Moscow and Beijing that a fourth round of UN sanctions targeting Iran’s energy sector may be necessary, an idea Russia and China have resisted.

 

It seems that the four Western powers in the 5+1 group, which have accused Iran of covertly seeking to build a nuclear weapon, plan to push for additional sanctions targeting Iran’s energy sector at the September 2 meeting, even though the Islamic Republic of Iran has been closely cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency to build confidence over its civilian nuclear program.

 

“As has been confirmed repeatedly by the IAEA director general, Iran’s nuclear activities are based on the NPT (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty)… and our nuclear activities are within the framework of international law,” Qashqavi stated. 

 

“Iran will continue its interactions with the International Atomic Energy Agency, like before,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman reiterated, adding, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has frequently showed its enormous potential for interaction and dialogue over the past few years.” 

 

He also denied the charges that Iran has been involved in the violence in Iraq, saying the claims are “baseless” and have “never once been proven.”     

 

Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, have also dismissed the allegations of Iranian interference, Qashqavi noted, adding that there is “no logical or rational reason for Iran to meddle in the neighboring country’s internal affairs.”

 

Source: MNA

August 25. 2009