Iran's FM meets British, Norwegian counterparts in NY

TEHRAN, Sept. 26 (MNA) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki held separate talks with his counterparts from England and Norway on the sidelines of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

In a meeting with new British Foreign Secretary William Hague, Mottaki stated that the only way for mending Tehran-London ties is that the new British government changes its policy toward Iran.

Mottaki noted that Iran’s nuclear program is transparent and Tehran has the highest record of cooperation with IAEA.

He went on to say that it is the legal right of the NPT members to master the nuclear fuel cycle for peaceful uses.

He also added that some Security Council members should be held accountable for arming some countries with nuclear weapons.

For his part, the British foreign secretary said that London does not want to be Iran’s enemy, adding his country is eager to rehabilitate relations with the Islamic Republic.

In a meeting with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store, Mottaki said some countries and spy agencies are trying to weaken Tehran-Oslo ties.

Pointing to the presence of the terrorist Mujahedin Khalq Organization in Norway, the Iranian minister said this has come as a negative point in bilateral ties.

Jonas Gahr Store, in turn, underlined the need for political settlement of the nuclear row between Iran and the West, saying Oslo seeks good ties with Tehran.

Talking to chairman of the Italian Senate Foreign Relations Committee Lamberto Dini, Iran’s senior diplomat called for expansion of parliamentary ties between the two countries.

Lamberto Dini, for his turn, called for Iran-Italy cooperation in campaign against drug smuggling in Afghanistan.