Mohamed Hassanein Heikal

TEHRAN, Nov. 26--Leading Egyptian journalist, Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, said on Saturday the newly-appointed US defense secretary, Robert Gates, had discussed allowing Iraq to attack Iran (before the 1980-88 Iraq-imposed war), provided Iraq does not attack Kuwait later, which was also welcomed by some Arab states.
Heikal told the satellite television network Al-Jazeera that CIA officials had met with the then head of Iraqi Security Organization, Fazel Berak, in Spain in this regard, IRNA reported.
“Gates, who has replaced former US secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, has 26 years of experience in CIA operations worldwide. Gates does not have any research or administrative record and was among the decision-makers of the first Persian Gulf War and will pursue Rumsfeld’s policies in a different style,“ he said.
The Egyptian journalist maintained that as a result of Gates’ performance, new military coups will take place in the Middle East.
“I believe that the US initiative to involve Iran and Syria in defusing the Iraqi crisis is also in line with the US policies to achieve its mischievous goals in the region,“ he said.
Heikal pointed out that the main problem is that the US’ regional presence is not only because it is a powerful country, but because of the behavior of regional countries.
The veteran journalist further said that Washington is trying to use Syria as a tool with respect to Baghdad.
“This is while Iran’s situation is completely different and Iran does not have any problem with its neighboring countries,“ he said.
He pointed out that Iran’s nuclear dossier might tempt Iran to play a greater role in Iraq diplomacy.
“Differences and wall of mistrust between Washington and Tehran are presently in a critical state. Iran will probably ask for guarantees in negotiations,“ he said.
Heikal stressed that what matters is negotiation and the US failure in implementing its Iraq policies.

RIYADH,
Saudi Arabia,
Nov. 26--Iranian Vice-President and head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei arrived here late Saturday.
Talking to IRNA on his arrival, he said he was visiting the kingdom to submit a message from President Ahmadinejad for Saudi King Abdullah.
“Iran attaches importance to promoting relations in all spheres with Saudi Arabia,“ he noted.
In addition to meeting the Saudi monarch, the vice-president will also call on other Saudi officials in charge of culture and tourism.
Iran had earlier announced that it would open an office in Riyadh to promote its cultural and historical attractions as well as handicraft.
Iran recently participated in an exhibition on ’Tourism and Handicrafts in Islamic Countries’ in Riyadh.

TEHRAN, Nov. 26--Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said on Sunday Russia’s stance on Iran’s nuclear issue has not changed.
Hosseini made the remarks during his weekly press briefing when he was asked about the impact of a recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, George W Bush, on Russia’s stance on Iran’s nuclear issue, IRNA reported.
He said “Russia will stick to its stance,“ adding that it is closer to facts on the ground.
He added that “although Russia moves in consort with the UN Security Council, its stance differs from that of the US“.
The spokesman further said Iran was counting on Russia to exert its diplomatic influence to have Iran’s peaceful nuclear case returned to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from the Security Council.
Asked about the International Atomic Energy Agency’s rejection of an Iranian request for technical assistance to its Arak reactor program, Hosseini said that “had the request been accepted, the door would have opened for more IAEA inspections on Iran’s nuclear sites“.
He acknowledged the IAEA’s commitment to provide member-states with technical assistance in various fields.
Notwithstanding the rejection, he said, “Iran will continue on its path, thanks to its domestic capabilities.“
He also said that Iran has agreed with a recent IAEA request to once again take samples from its Lavizan area in Tehran.
“Iran has agreed with the agency’s request in line with its continuing cooperation with the international body.“
Hosseini offered assurance that Iran would continue its cooperation with the IAEA as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Questioned about the proposed tripartite meeting of Iranian, Iraqi and Syrian presidents to discuss ways of stopping bloodshed in Iraq, he said that the tripartite meeting was not on the agenda, though it is a good plan.
The spokesman explained that the postponement of Talabani’s visit to Iran was due to the human disaster caused by the terrorist bombing in Sadr City on Thursday and state of emergency prompted by the death of 250 innocent people and injuries to 300 others, a reference to the curfew and shutdown of Baghdad airport since Thursday.
He also said that the crisis in Iraq can only be resolved through the patience and self-restraint of different factions, protection of national unity, withdrawal of foreign forces and handover of national affairs to Iraqis.
Hosseini noted that the Syrian president had been invited to visit Iran and that “negotiations are currently underway to fix the date of the visit“.

DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 26--Iran’s outgoing ambassador to UAE, Mohammad Ali Hadi, conferred with Prosecutor General of UAE Osam Al-Hamdan on Sunday.
The two sides discussed bilateral relations, judicial cooperation and issues related to citizens of the two countries.
Referring to the Iranian prisoners’ status in UAE, the envoy called for the release of detainees, most of whom are unaware of rules related to drugs in UAE, IRNA reported.
Most Iranians in UAE prisons are held on drug-related charges.
Legal drugs in Iran, such as acetaminophen and diazepam tablets, are illegal in the UAE.
The UEA official also called on Iranian and Emirati officials to advice tour agencies for providing information to Iranian passengers regarding UAE rules.
According to the UAE penal code, anyone carrying sedative drugs will be sentenced to heavy prison terms.
Earlier, some 34 Iranian nationals jailed in UAE jails were released in the fasting month of Ramadan, as a result of the efforts of Iran’s ambassador to UAE.
During a meeting with Hadi, UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum agreed with the release of Iranian inmates.
“A total of 250 Iranian prisoners were released in the past 18 months and returned to Iran,“ Hadi said.
Hadi noted that more than 60 Iranians are serving life terms and one of them is also sentenced to death.

IRNA Chief Jalal Fayyazi (l) talks with North Korean Ambassador to Tehran Kim Chong Ryong on Sunday. (IRNA Photo)

TEHRAN, Nov. 26--North Korean Ambassador to Tehran Kim Chong Ryong called for expansion of news cooperation between Tehran and Pyongyang.
In a meeting with IRNA’s Managing Director Seyyed Jalal Fayyazi on Sunday, Ryong highlighted the necessity of publishing the truth about events in the two countries, IRNA reported.
Referring to the news monopolization of US media, he called for cooperation between news agencies of the two states to withstand the misinformation campaign of US media.
Ryong pointed to Iran’s peaceful nuclear program and underlined that the right to nuclear energy is not restricted to the US, Russia and western nations and the whole world is entitled to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
“Iran’s experience in the nuclear field is to the benefit of all neighboring and regional states,“ he said, condemning the double standards of US officials on nuclear issues.
He pointed to US sanctions against North Korea and said “we are ready to negotiate with the US government in case of the removal of financial sanctions“.
Also speaking in the meeting, Fayyazi condemned the unilateral flow of information and news from world powers. “Some news agencies and TV networks are trying to manipulate the world public opinion while Iran-North Korea news cooperation can disrupt this one-way equation,“ he said, expressing the readiness of the School of Media Studies in training North Korean reporters and journalists.
Fayyazi added that Iran and North Korea enjoy age-old political, economic and cultural commonalities, saying that the US is creating hindrances to the independence of the two nations. He looked forward to the removal of US sanctions against North Korea.

TEHRAN, Nov. 26--A judicial official said on Sunday that an action plan has been launched in Tehran based on which hooligans will be arrested and given identification cards.
Deputy Tehran Prosecutor Mahmoud Salarkia added that this plan is a serious move to combat public offenders, Fars News Agency reported.
Referring to the establishment of specific branches for this purpose in different mayoral districts of the capital, he said that judges in these branches will exclusively deal with the cases of hooligans arrested under the action plan.
“An identification card will be issued for everybody arrested under this plan even if they are not sent to prison,“ he said, adding that this card amounts to a conviction.
Commenting on the period of the action plan in Tehran, Salarkia said that it will be initially undertaken for one month and would then be continued.
He noted that the plan is executed by preliminary courts in cooperation with security police forces.
In related development, head of revolutionary courts of Fars province, Jaber Baneshi, estimated that Fars has about 40,000 illegal weapons.
“Illegal weapons have created insecurity across the province. Political, judicial and police officials are seriously determined to confront those who keep illegal weapons,“ he said.
Baneshi added that holders of such weapons will be imprisoned for three to ten years while traffickers will be executed.

TEHRAN, Nov. 26--A collision between a bus and truck left 13 people dead and 13 wounded on the Saveh-Hamedan road in central Iran on Sunday.
According to IRNA, the tragic incident was a result of reckless driving by the trucker who police said was overtaking from the wrong side, IRNA reported.
The main reasons behind most road mishaps resulting in deaths, injury and economic losses is said to be reckless driving, dilapidated cars and the poor quality of roads.

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Nov. 26--The West should listen to the voices of other cultures and increase mutual understanding through intensive dialogue with the Muslim world, said Iranian thinker Ali Paya.
“Europe for a very long time has had a dominating role in world affairs whereas in today’s world there are other voices which ought to be heard. If we don’t listen to others, we deprive ourselves of a wealth of knowledge,“ Paya told IRNA in an interview in Brussels.
He noted that the only way for humanity to solve its problems is by increasing mutual understanding and building bridges with other cultures.
“If we move in our inner center and do not listen to other voices, the danger of a clash of civilizations can emerge,“ warned Paya, who was in Brussels to participate in an international debate on knowledge and dialogue.
The debate took place during a session of the International Transcultura Institute, the traveling university founded by Italian philosopher Umberto Eco and French ethnologist Alain le Pichon in 1988 to promote the exchange of ideas between European and non-European cultures.
Paya is an associate professor at the National Research Institute for Science Policy in Tehran and a visiting professor at the University of Westminster in the UK. He called for an intensive dialogue to resolve current problems between the West and the Muslim world.