Top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani (l) shakes hands with South African President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria on Sunday.

PRETORIA,
South Africa, Feb. 26--Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and South African President Thabo Mbeki discussed on Sunday issues of mutual interest and the most important global developments.
At the meeting held on Mbeki’s initiative, the two sides also discussed bilateral cooperation and Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities.
South Africa, which is one of the IAEA’s active members, joined the UN Security Council’s non-permanent members since January 2007 and will occupy the rotating chair of the council from Friday.
The Larijani-Mbeki meeting is of significance as Iran’s nuclear case has entered a new phase at the end of the UN Security Council’s ultimatum as envisaged by resolution 1737.
South Africa had earlier stressed on the right of all Non-Proliferation Treaty signatories to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Following his arrival in South Africa on Sunday, Larijani warned that Iran will reciprocate any action by any country aimed at escalating nuclear tensions.
Meanwhile, Larijani told IRNA on Monday that the US should make a formal request for talks with Iran, in which case Iran will consider it positively.
He noted that if the US request is made through official channels and such talks prove to be constructive and rational, Iran will be prepared to consider it in a positive way.
In reaction to the remarks of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Washington is ready to enter into talks with Iran on the condition of suspension of its uranium enrichment, he said, “We give no credit to such stances revealed through the media, since American officials pursue other goals by talking to the media.“
He underlined that any country willing to hold talks with Iran should declare it through an official message.
“Iran will welcome just negotiations on the issue to solve the existing discord,“ he added.
Larijani, who is also the secretary of Supreme National Security Council, said that the precondition set by the US for holding talks with Iran is unacceptable and unprincipled, since they are expected to achieve a solution.
“Setting conditions means indicating the outcome of talks prior to holding them. Therefore, such a policy has not been productive,“ he said.
Larijani accused the US government of intensifying the Middle East crises, adding that Iran pursues the policy of promoting stability and tranquility in the region.

TEHRAN, Feb. 26--State Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Sunday the US wants to further increase its presence in the region, noting that it already has bases in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Azerbaijan.
Rafsanjani was addressing the Iranian Police’s 6th Ideological and Political Conference attended by religious and security officials, IRNA reported.
“Foreigners have turned their eyes on the region to secure vital interests. These interests are so crucial that they are ready to fight for them,“ he said.
“The eyes of arrogant world powers are focused on the Middle East--its resources, energy, oil and gas.“
The SEC chief noted that the US, with its increasing need for energy, has planted the Zionist Israeli regime in the region so as to advance its interests in the sensitive region through means such as causing discord and promoting the sale of military hardware.
“US President Bush proposed the Greater Middle East Initiative, which is aimed at increasing US presence in the region. The US has spent over 400 billion dollars for the plan which has seen thousands dead and tens of thousands of others injured,“ he said.
Rafsanjani also said the plan has met with obstacles, one of which is due to the effects of Islamic Revolution in the region.
He said US officials have explicitly stated that they spent “billions of dollars in the region but the Islamic Revolution is enjoying the benefits“.
When American officials warned Iraqi President Jalal Talabani that Iran was interfering in Iraqi affairs, Talabani responded by saying, “Iraqi officials are friends of Iran“.
The SEC chief then urged the Iranian nation, armed forces and police to act wisely under the current circumstances.
“The leader (Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei) has precise control over events ... He will give the necessary orders and will lead the nation when necessary,“ he said.
Rafsanjani then outlined the clergy’s active participation in the national arenas and their constructive role in the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

TEHRAN, Feb. 26--Former President Mohammad Khatami said on Sunday nuclear negotiations require goodwill and not preconditions, noting that the US occupation of Iraq has only led to the spread of radicalism.
The US has refused international calls, including by the US Congress’ Baker-Hamilton Commission, for direct talks with the US, saying Iran should first suspend its uranium enrichment program, IRNA reported.
Khatami, who heads the International Institute for Dialogue Among Cultures and Civilizations, was speaking at a meeting with a visiting delegation of US Christian clergymen and religious activists.
The multi-denominational group is visiting Iran to talk with Iranian political and religious leaders, as well as the people, for the sake of promoting peace and easing current tensions.
“The Iranian and American nations are wise. The US committed major mistakes by occupying Iraq which only led to the spread of radicalism,“ he said.
He further criticized the US for “arrogantly spurning well-intentioned proposals“, pointing out that today there is more violence and insecurity in Iraq than when Saddam ruled that country.
Khatami also called on the US administration to take courageous moves to settle serious problems in the region, which it has fueled.
“Any new crisis will harm the Middle East, Iran and the US. In an interdependent world, security is an interdependent issue and this reality should be accepted,“ he said.

TEHRAN, Feb. 26--Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Monday traffic jams require serious deliberations on the part of officials.
Speaking in the Seventh Conference on Traffic Transportation, Qalibaf told ILNA that traffic is the city’s major problem which can be solved.
“All countries are struggling with traffic issues,“ he said. “We can learn from their experiences and implement practical methods to overcome road congestions in the capital.“
He stressed that traffic engineering, discipline and driving codes should be incorporated in plans.
Referring to his tenure as police chief, Qalibaf pointed to an 18-month plan which, if implemented, would have regulated traffic and led to long-term plans.
Bureaucracy delayed decisions expected in 45 days for the plan, which would have produced results in 18 months.
“Nineteen months have passed and decisions have not been made yet,“ he said. Noting that traffic simulations indicated the ineffectiveness of building highways, roads and overpasses, the mayor argued traffic problems boil down to the lack of a unified and systematic management.
“Time is of least importance in our country which, in turn, indicates lax management,“ he said. “Officials do not react properly to this national disaster.“
Qalibaf concluded by pointing to cheap fuel, low tolls and traffic-causing networks as wrong decisions contributing to road congestions.

TEHRAN, Feb. 26--Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday Iran and Saudi Arabia are not expected to declare any specific plan regarding Lebanon during their mutual talks.
Speaking to reporters at a joint press conference with former Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss, Mottaki said Iran and Saudi Arabia only discussed how to bring the stances of Lebanese opposition groups closer, IRNA reported.
“Iran and Saudi Arabia also discussed the composition of the Lebanese government as well as the performance of a special court pursuing the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri,“ he said.
The former Lebanese premier, for his part, referred to the efforts of Tehran and Riyadh for resolving the crisis in Lebanon.
Referring to the now defunct roadmap for the Middle East, Hoss said the plan seeks to cause disunity among regional nations and spark sectarian violence.
Also on Monday, Mottaki met with former French Foreign Minister Roland Dumas on Monday.
Dumas remarked that the US indifference toward realities was a source of concern for the international community.
He welcomed Mottaki’s proposal to increase the number of countries participating in talks on Iran’s nuclear program and establish a consortium to undertake uranium enrichment for Iran on Iranian territory.
Mottaki also said that the big powers’ rejection of the global disarmament treaty was an obstacle to global peace.
The minister pointed to European political history which, he said, shows its leaders have always made “reasonable decisions based on collective wisdom“ rather than pursuing individual preferences.
In related news, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Muallem conferred with his Iranian and Iraqi counterparts on preparations for a meeting of Iraq’s neighboring countries.
According to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, in separate phone conversations on Sunday, the Syrian official held talks with Mottaki and Hoshyar Zebari on paving the way for this meeting in Baghdad.
Restoration of diplomatic ties between Baghdad and Damascus after 25 years highlights the importance of the next month’s meeting between the foreign ministers of Iraq’s neighboring countries in Baghdad.
The rapprochement followed by Iraqi president’s fruitful trip to Syria and the Syrian promise to do its best to help forge national reconciliation in Iraq show the importance of the coming meeting in Baghdad.

KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 26--Most Afghans who have returned to Afghanistan from Iran do not have valid identification documents, said spokesman of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in this war-ravaged country on Monday.
Talking to reporters, Mohammad Nader Farhad added that the UNHCR formed a research group in Islam-Qaleh border in western Herat province to screen the repatriated refugees.
According to IRNA, he said the number of refugees lacking valid documents is not clear. “The UNHCR is paying $60 to each refugee who return to Afghanistan,“ he said. Referring to the fact that 70,000 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan since the voluntary repatriation program was launched, adding that 50,000 of them pertain to 2006.
On Saturday, Iran’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Mohammad Reza Bahrami recommended that Afghan citizens acquire visa from Iranian consulates in Afghanistan if they wish to travel to Iran.
Speaking to IRNA on the sidelines of a ceremony to offer Iran’s 100,000-dollar aid to Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry, Bahrami also said that under the new framework for issuing visas, limitations have been imposed.
Referring to the large number of visas issued by Iranian consulates in Kabul, Herat, Mazar Sharif and Kandahar in the past, the envoy said a number of Afghans who traveled to Iran have not yet returned to their country. “That’s why some limitations have been imposed on issuing visa. Afghans who have obtained visa can travel to Iran via land and air routes,“ he said.
Bahrami noted that a trilateral committee comprising Iran, Afghanistan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will be formed in Mashhad to discuss the situation of Afghan refugees based in Iran. More than 500,000 Afghans travel to Iran every year.

PARIS, Feb. 26--A French national jailed in Iran for over a year for straying into territorial waters during a fishing expedition was released on Sunday, the French foreign minister said.
Stephane Lherbier was arrested on November 29, 2005, and sentenced to 18 months in prison along with German Donald Klein, who could also be released in the coming days.
“He is currently in our embassy in Tehran,“ Foreign Minister Philipe Douste-Blazy told reporters, AFP reported.
The French national was accorded clemency by the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Douste-Blazy said, adding that he hoped Klein would also be released under the same measure in the coming days.
Lherbier and Klein were on holiday in November 2005 in the United Arab Emirates when they hired a boat to go fishing off the Iranian coast.
A spokesman of the French Embassy in Tehran also confirmed the report early Monday.
The unnamed spokesman told IRNA that Lherbier was pardoned by Ayatollah Khamenei.