Parts of Incentives Package Unacceptable: Iran
Laiyla Sheerazi 'Pakistan Times' Foreign Correspondent

TEHRAN (Iran): Iran says parts of a Western incentives package aimed at making a breakthrough in the nuclear dispute were unacceptable and it would not compromise or negotiate on its nuclear "rights," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Sunday.

Hamid Reza Asefi also said Iran is not stalling by taking time to respond to the package, which was presented to it last week and promises U.S. and European nuclear help if Iran suspends its uranium enrichment program.

"We started studying the package the moment it was presented to us,"Asefi told reporters. "There are points which are acceptable. There are points which are ambiguous. There are points that we believe should be strengthened, and points that we believe should not exist.''

"We have to evaluate it. We will use our time as long as is necessary," Asefi said. "We will give our views in response to the package and we will offer our proposals.''

Asefi did not elaborate on which parts he was referring to. But his comments reflected Iran's intention to seek changes in the offer.

The package put forward by the Big Five at the United Nations plus Germany aims to restart negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who presented the offer to Tehran, said he expected a reply within ``weeks.''

Joy over Zarqawi's Death

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi Sunday said that like the people of Iraq, Iranians are also glad that al-Qaeda member in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has been killed.

Speaking to the media in his weekly press conference, he said that Iran condemns terrorism anywhere in the world, particularly in Iraq, irrespective of whether the victims are Shiites or Sunnis, given that there is no good and bad terrorism.

The spokesman underlined that killing Iraqi people is unacceptable to any kind of reasoning.

Turning to the joy of the Iraqi people over the death of al-Zarqawi, he said that it proves he was despised by Iraqis because of his violence, adding that Iranians are equally glad.

"Of course, this does not mean that Iran has been cooperating with the US or any institution to locate al-Zarqawi. Neither did Iran communicate with Iraq in this respect," he added.

He referred to the claim on providing intelligence by Iran mainly to target al-Zarqawi as a plot by the media with a certain objective and said that Iran has not cooperated with the US in this respect.

Meanwhile, Asefi said that Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal is due in Tehran on Monday to exchange views with Iranian officials about Palestine, Iraq, Iran's nuclear issue as well as cooperation on regional and international issues.

He said that given the upcoming Shanghai summit at the end of the current week and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to China to attend the event, Iran's diplomacy and foreign policy are expected to be given momentum.

Asefi noted that the upcoming summit will provide the opportunity for various countries to get an idea on Iran's views.

During his visit to China, the president is expected to confer separately with high-ranking officials from the represented countries on bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments.

"Ahmadinejad intends to exchange views with heads of states due to attend the Shanghai summit about various matters, including Iran's nuclear issue," he added.

About the message expected to be submitted by the Saudi foreign minister during his visit, he said that it is impossible to know its content ahead of receiving it, adding that it will be from the Saudi Arabian King Abdullah.

He pointed to Larijani's visit to Egypt and said that it has to do with Iran's nuclear issue, adding that in addition to holding talks with European states, China and Russia, Iran should also discuss the issue with Muslim and Arab states and make optimum use of such capacities.

In response to a question about the recent talks with Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar in Tehran, he assessed them as favorable and said that today Palestinians need assistance more than ever.

He referred to Iran's assistance to Palestine and urged Islam states, in particular the well-off Islamic countries to extend a helping hand to the Palestinian nation.

Asefi called on Islamic states not to let Palestine be trampled over by the Zionists, though they will not be trampled and the Palestinian Resistance Movement will materialize its ideals one after another.

Responding to a question whether Iraq's vice president visited Iran to mediate between Iran and US for holding talks, he dismissed it and said that it has nothing to do with such talks.

Atomic Agency meets Today

Meanwhile, a story from Vienna says that the UN nuclear watchdog will meet in Vienna tomorrow (Monday) with the world waiting to see if Iran accepts an international offer to rein in its nuclear program.

A vigorous debate but no resolution or major initiative is expected at the regular meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board of governors, which is expected to run several days and discuss routine matters besides an Iranian nuclear program that has raised fears Tehran seeks the bomb.

"The decision to be made is in Tehran, not at the board," said a European diplomat about the offer on condition of anonymity.

Another diplomat said, "I think that there is no stomach at all from any country next week to posture or stir up any fires at this delicate time in the political process."

The IAEA board set off the latest crisis when it in February found Iran in violation of non-proliferation safeguards for almost two decades of hiding nuclear activities.

This opened the door to possible punitive action by the United Nations Security Council.●