EC Chairman: Certain People Are After Blackmailing Iran

Tehran, March 18, IRNA – Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here on Monday that some people are after blackmailing Iran. Ayatollah Rafsanjani told Belarussian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei that talks for finalization of nuclear accords are tough. “Though relations between both countries were affected by sanctions in recent years due to tyrannical policies of certain western states, Belarusˈ stances in its post-independence era have remained unchanged and in favor of expansion of ties with Iran,” Rafsanjani added. He said, a final agreement has yet to be made and the US and western hardliners and Zionist lobby might create obstacles in way of the deal. If westerners want to resolve the nuclear problem, there are easy mechanism available but if they pursue other goals the Iranian nation has proved throughout history that will not succumb to force. He said the eight-year sacred defense is an honorable document showing the Iranian people’s resistance and their refusal to use weapons of mass destruction. “We resisted against chemical bombardments and never retaliated such chemical attacks on Islamic and humanitarian grounds.” He referred to the anniversary of Halabja chemical bombardment (by former Iraqi Baathist regiem) and said some people injured in the chemical attack were brought to Iran for treatment and some sent to the West so that westerners saw for themselves the crimes committed by Saddam Hussein and the Baath party in cooperation with the West. He added that visit of senior Belarus delegation to Iran indicates the countryˈs intention to expand relations with Iran. “Iran is also ready to promote cooperation with Belarus in political, cultural and economic domains.” The Belarus Minister congratulated Ayatollah Rafsanjani on Iran’s political success both domestically and internationally and said, “The Belarussian people know you as a religious and political figure, playing key role in building Iranˈs infrastructures.” He said his visit to Tehran was aimed at exploring ways to expand ties in talks with Iranian officials./end