The approval of U.S. resolution number 1483, lifting Iraqi sanctions, has given the United States the license to keep occupation of Iraq, Iran's Foreign Minister Dr. Kamal Kharrazi said on Sunday.
Authentic representatives of the Iraqi people should hold the ruling within the framework of an interim government, Iran's top diplomat remarked, according to Irib.
Regarding ties with Washington, Kharrazi dismissed American allegations accusing Tehran of harbouring al-Qaeda hardliners in the country and said: "Iran have been engaged in fighting the al-Qaeda group prior to the United States."
Kharrazi insisted the Islamic Republic had already detained and expelled many al Qaeda operatives, who had crossed illegally into the country and was interrogating other suspects. "We have been serious about al Qaeda and we will remain serious about al Qaeda because it is a very dangerous organization," Kharrazi told reporters in Tehran. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
