Oskanian meets Iranian FM

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is hopeful that the sides would return to the talks and modify their approaches towards the issue," stated Mottaki while speaking at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart, Vartan Oskanian.

"As we have perpetually declared, we still believe that referring Iran's nuclear dossier to the Security Council is a political and an illegal attempt, because in all the reports by the IAEA chief there is not a single trace of deviation or legal impediment in Iran's nuclear activities. Therefore, securitizing and politicizing the issue puts the IAEA under question," stated Mottaki.

"There is an obvious unfair discrimination going on in the world today, on one hand they say that Iran will achieve nuclear power in the future and though Iran's stance about the issue is quite clear, the sound of their threats has made the world go deaf. On the other hand, the Zionist Regime is honored by the high ranking officials of this regime for possessing nuclear arms," he added.

"Iran is definitely trying to follow up the issue through the Arab Union, The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the Security Council, the General Assembly chief and the UN about the 200 nuclear weapons in the occupied lands. We also expect regional countries to confront the issue with an air of certainty and seriousness and reach a fundamental and international solution to it," he went on to say.

Also about the Iran-Armenia gas and oil pipeline construction, Mottaki informed that holding energy ties with regional countries like Armenia, Iraq, Turkey and Azerbaijan was one of the main bases of Iran's regional policies.

"We have succeeded in relating ourselves with our neighbors on the energy plane. We are on the final verge of exporting gas and electricity to Armenia and we are also considering the export of oil to this country," he added.

He also informed that the Iran-Armenia pipeline would be initialized by the end of the Iranian year (March 2007).

"The relationship between both countries has a good historical record and the politicians of both countries are focused on elevating their ties in all fields," he said.

He also evaluated the Armenian foreign minister's trip to Iran as positive and successful.

For his part, Armenian foreign minister, Vartan Oskanian also called for the elevation of political and commerce ties with Iran.

"Armenia closely follows Iran's nuclear issue. It also wishes that the Iran's dossier is somehow compromised without imposition and pressure through fair negotiations and considering the Iranian nation's rights," he added.

He also congratulated the Iranian nation and government on their recent hilarious elections. ISNA