ALGIERS, Algeria, Feb. 16--IranÕs Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Hassan Rohani conferred here Tuesday with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on issues facing the Muslim world as well as bilateral and regional issues.
"The Iraqi crisis is a significant problem for the Muslim world and regional states," Rohani said, IRNA reported.
He said the US policy regarding the region and Muslim world, and Washington's slogans on fighting terrorism and establishing democracy are all tools for perpetrating hegemony over Muslim countries.
"The meddling of US in internal affairs of other countries has caused the hatred of people in the region,Ó he said.
Rohani, who is the chief of Iranian delegation in nuclear talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency and EU, said Iran has had good cooperation with the nuclear watchdog which has attested to the peaceful nature of IranÕs atomic energy program.
ÒIran will not let any nation to contravene international laws. If Iran does not plan to supply fuel for its electricity power plants, in the not-so-distant future, the major portion of domestic oil production has to be channeled towards power plants generating electricity,Ó he said.
Rohani noted that Iran is determined to pursue the construction of seven nuclear power plants and will not accept a situation where only a few nations possess nuclear power, "because this would mean the trampling of legitimate and legal rights of other NPT members".
He further praised Algeria for its role in the non-aligned movement and as a member of the IAEA Board of Governor.
The Algerian president said his country is ready to expand cooperation with Iran in all areas.
He also said his country will cooperate with Iran in fighting terrorism and drugs.
Bouteflika called for preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq and the need for the occupied forces to leave Iraq.
In a meeting with Algerian People's National Assembly Speaker Amar Saadani, Rohani said on Tuesday stronger relations between Iran and Algeria would be good and beneficial to the Muslim world. He further said the ÒGreater Middle EastÓ initiative of the US is a new tool to strengthen its grip on the region and legalize Israeli bullying.
Saadani, for his part, assessed recent developments in relations between Tehran and Algiers as ÔpromisingÕ, and noted the similarity of stances of the two countries on crucial global issues.
Highlighting the importance of closer ties between the two countries, Saadani said there were no limitations in his country's desire to enhance ties with Iran.
Rohani left Algiers on Wednesday after a three-day visit.

TEHRAN, Feb. 16--A leading reformist, Saeed Hajjarian, said reformers will continue to fulfill their main duty of pushing for democracy and civil liberties.
ÒIf defeated in the next presidential election and sidelined from the political limelight, we (reformers) will use the spare time to learn more about democracy and how it serves accountability, violence and morality,Ó ISNA further quoted him as saying on Wednesday.
ÒThis would be a good opportunity for us to refresh our power and strength and make a strong comeback,Ó he said.
Hajjarian lauded President Mohammad KhatamiÕs administration for pioneering the process of political development and was confident that even if the conservative faction manages to win the elections, they would not remain in power for more than one term.
ÒConservatives face numerous domestic and foreign challenges such as the issue of human rights, factional disputes and constant rivalry with reformists,Ó he said.

LUXEMBOURG,
Feb. 16--Senior European Union and Iranian officials are optimistic that ongoing negotiations with the European Union regarding IranÕs nuclear program would have positive results.
"I am quite optimistic that we are able to achieve an agreement. The deadline is end of March. So we still have some weeks at our disposal," Nicolas Schmidt, LuxembourgÕs minister delegate for foreign affairs, told a press conference in Luxembourg late Tuesday after talks with IranÕs Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, IRNA reported.
"The momentum of the agreement is very strong," he noted.
Kharrazi told the same press conference, "We are optimistic. We are doing our best. Both sides have to be more serious to arrive to conclusions that would lead to tangible results by mid-March."
Schmidt said EU-Iran talks will be resumed very soon in Geneva.
"We have to take practical and serious steps to build more confidence between the two sides," said Kharrazi.
The Iranian foreign minister arrived in Luxembourg, which holds the current EU presidency, late Tuesday on a one-day visit for talks on EU-Iran relations.
"I believe that both sides have to confine themselves to the Paris Agreement, refraining from statements that may be provocative and destructive, to have sessions on problems until we come up in March with a final evaluation," he said. Schmidt stressed that the two sides had Òa very fruitful exchange of views on a number of very important topics concerning mainly the relationship between the EU and Iran".
Schmidt noted that the talks are being conducted by the three EU states-- Germany, France and the UK--and supported by EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana.
"It is a very great success up until now that the EU diplomacy has been able to open and continue these negotiations with Iran," Schmidt said.
Kharrazi pointed out that they also discussed the situation in Iraq and the role played by Iran in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"IÕm sure that the EU can play a very important role in that part of the world through persuasion and by helping and supporting regional initiatives. In that respect, Iran can be a partner of the European Union," said Kharrazi.

GORGAN, Golestan, Feb. 16--Presidential advisor, Mostafa Derayati, said factional disputes among conservatives and disagreements over finding a consensual candidate for the next presidential election is a political reality.
ÒIt is a reflection of long and deep-running differences of opinions among members of the rightist camp,Ó he said, adding that disagreements have existed among them longer than one might expect.
Speaking to a group of reporters in this northern province late Tuesday, Derayati was also skeptical about reformists reaching an agreement for endorsing a single nominee, although there is still hope.
The official rejected remarks that the nomination of former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, would do the reform camp more harm than good, and said reformists would welcome his decision to run.
ÒThose who once considered opponents of Rafsanjani as enemies of the prophet should be asked why they are so worried about his comeback,Ó he said.

TEHRAN, Feb. 16--IranÕs Meteorological Organization in a communiquŽ warned against the rise in temperature and the possibility of avalanche in mountainous terrains of Alborz.
The communiquŽ noted that since temperature will increase along the Caspian coast on Friday and Saturday, and also due to warm winds, the snow will melt and cause an avalanche.
The rise in temperature will also swell the rivers in Gilan province and western parts of Mazandaran province, it added.

TEHRAN, Feb. 16--Intelligence Minister Ali Younesi said here Wednesday the United States' Central Intelligence Agency has always been spying on Iran using satellites and other means.
Talking to reporters, Younesi added that the US has embarked on espionage while all military and nuclear activities of the country are transparent, IRNA reported.
"We have nothing to hide," he said.
"Nothing comes out of such measures and they can get no new information. If any flying object comes close, it will be targeted and downed," he warned.
Asked about the US threats against Iran, the minister said, "It is a psychological war to influence Iran's nuclear talks with the Europeans (Britain, Germany and France). The US cannot carry out its threats."
Turning to the security concerns in the TurkCell deal (to launch a mobile phone network in Iran to be operated jointly by the Turkish company), he said, "All our security terms and conditions have been accepted and the bill has envisaged them."
Commenting on the ninth presidential election slated for June 17, Younesi asserted that opinion polls indicate 50 percent of the people will cast their ballots in the upcoming election.
ÒI am sure that the voter turnout in the ninth presidential election will be high,Ó he said.
Asked whether a number of Iranians were detained during IraqÕs recent election, Younesi dismissed the news.