NEW YORK, Oct 6 (APP): Iran does not believe Israel or the US would launch a military attack against it over it’s nuclear programme, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says. Asked in an interview with Newsweek magazine if he believed there would an Israeli or US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, Mottaki answered flatly:
“No.” He didn’t elaborate.
Questioned If there were such an attack by Israel, would Iran regard it as an attack by the United States, he replied, “In the Middle East, [no one] makes a distinction between the US and Israel.”
Asked if Iran would shut down the Strait of Hormuz in the event of an attack, Mottaki said, “A number of American and Israeli officials express military comments and take military positions. Naturally, they will get military responses”.
At the same time, he welcomed the US decision last July to send one of the top State Department officials, William Burns, to attend negotiations with Iran in Europe, interpreting the move as a realistic step.
“We welcomed the participation by Burns in the Geneva talks,” Mottaki said. “We feel that if this is the real approach taken by the US right now vis-a-vis the nuclear issue, they must continue with such efforts.”
He said previously the administration of President George W. Bush attached conditions to its participation in the talks with Iran.
The foreign minister said Iran’s nuclear programme is legal. “We are continuing with enrichment, which we have every right to do.”
