President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said changes in the administrative configuration are necessary.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Ahmadinejad noted that economic developments, previously examined by the economic working group, were discussed, Fars News Agency reported.
“We will continue this discussion for a few more sessions and the final results will be made public in about a month,“ he said.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad talks to reporters on the sidelines of the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Referring to Lebanese developments, the chief executive said, “All rival parties in Lebanon should work for safeguarding independence, glory and rights of the Lebanese nation.“
He emphasized that the world powers should not interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs.
Asked about the cancellation of the motion to impeach Commerce Minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi, he said, “This was a faulty move from the beginning. I wish the Majlis had cancelled the motion sooner, because the commerce minister is not at fault. The motion was raised a few times and cancelled each time. I have heard the comments of the people who insisted on this impeachment. They raised issues that did not actually apply to the performance of commerce minister. Mir-Kazemi is one of the most successful Cabinet members. We are glad that the motion was cancelled, because he has accomplished a great deal during his tenure.“
Asked why he refuses to expose the names of people who are economically corrupt, Ahmadinejad said citizens of the republic know the names of the corrupt people and what their families do.
“The government is firmer than in the past to pursue the anti-corruption drive. The government is almost alone in this campaign, but it will follow up on the matter to the best of its ability,“ he said.

A demonstration will be staged near Britain’s Embassy in Tehran on Thursday over the removal of the terrorist Mujahideen Khalq Organization from the list of terrorist groups, the Council for Coordination of Islamic Publicity announced on Wednesday.
The council, in a statement, said a group of families of martyrs and veterans will protest at the British court’s ruling to remove MKO from the list of terrorist organizations, IRIB reported. The protesters also plan to issue a communiquŽ against the decision. Earlier, Iran summons the British ambassador to protest the drive.
In a meeting with British ambassador to Tehran Geoffrey Adams, Iranian deputy foreign minister for European affairs, Mehdi Safari, condemned the British court decision, which ruled in favor of the MKO.
Citing the MKO’s hostile measures against Iranian officials and the nation, Safari said removing the group from the list of proscribed terrorist organizations is ’unacceptable’ and ’politically motivated’.
The Iranian official advised the British government to act against the implementation of the verdict to avoid the judgment’s serious impact on Tehran-London relations.
The criminal group, which killed many Iranian citizens and officials, currently is on the terrorist list of the European Union, the United States and many other countries.

The British High Court has rejected an appeal by a former Iranian diplomat, sending his case to the European Court of Human Rights.
“Now, the European Court of Human Rights must give its verdict on whether the extradition of (Nosratollah) Tajik to the US is in accordance with international human rights treaties and standards,“ said an informed source close to the case, Presstv reported.
“If the appeal had been accepted and his case sent to the House of Lords’ Judicial Committee, it would have taken at least a year for it to be heard, but now that judiciary action in complete, there is no further right to re-appeal,“ the source added.
The source said he hoped the European court would overturn the British High Court’s verdict for Iran’s former ambassador to Jordan to be extradited to the United States.
“In that case, Tajik who is not in good physical shape would be released,“ said the source.
Tajik has recently undergone treatment for a heart disease.
In April 2008, the British High Court upheld a former ruling that Tajik should be sent to the US to face charges, forcing his lawyer to launch an appeal.
Tajik, arrested in November 2006, was accused of trying to purchase night vision goggles for Iran from US mediators.
Tajik is a citizen of Coxhoe, Durham County, along with his wife and two sons. After retiring from his diplomatic post in 2003, he joined Durham University as an honorary fellow.
According to British media reports, undercover FBI agents, posing as military equipment traders, proposed a deal to Tajik for the sale of night vision goggles said to be worth £50,000, for export to Iran, in breach of US export controls.
The spies arranged a series of clandestine meetings in London hotels, which they secretly filmed as evidence. Tajik’s legal team has argued he has no terrorist connections or criminal record, and that the American agents acted illegally as “agents provocateurs“ by trapping him.

The Basij (volunteer forces) is to start patrolling streets in urban areas across Iran to curb the security threats, a Basij commander said on Tuesday.
“Following the people’s request and due to the social circumstances, we will launch patrols in different neighborhoods and towns as of May 23,“ Fars News Agency quoted the Basij commander of operations, Ahmad Zolqadr, as saying.
The decision comes after a deadly mosque blast in the southern city of Shiraz that killed 13 people and injured more than 200 in mid-April.
“The patrols will be carried out from sunset to dawn by uniformed Basij members holding a special badge and warrant, accompanied by a policeman,“ Zolqadr said.
“They are tasked with providing security for governmental, public and private buildings, countering thugs and overt crimes, but they cannot enter households without a warrant under any circumstances.“
Iran has arrested 15 people and accused the United States and Britain of training and financing the bombers.
“Such operations are aimed at creating insecurity in Iran but they will get a decisive response from the Basiji patrols,“ vowed the commander, echoing allegations of US involvement in the Shiraz blast.
Basij is a volunteer force attached to the Islamic Revolution’s Guards Corps, which defends the Islamic Republic against foreign and domestic threats.
According to official figures, Basij is a 10-million-strong force with male and female members in government bodies, schools and universities. Basij volunteers constituted a considerable number of fighters in the Iraq-imposed 1980-88 war.

Spain’s Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos in a telephonic conversation late Tuesday with the Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili hailed Iran’s package of proposal and called for cooperation at the regional and international levels.
According to Mehr News Agency, Moratinos referred to Iran’s initiative in presenting the package of proposal and underlined the importance of continuing negotiations until a tangible result is obtained.
“Spain believes that the package contains good proposals and is currently studying the package,“ Moratinos said.
Jalili, for his part, said the package serves as a suitable yardstick for cooperation in various arenas of mutual interest.
Iran’s package of proposal has so far been presented to eight international personalities and institutions, including the 5+1 Group, secretary-general of the UN and rotating chairman of the UN Security Council. Some global officials have so far contacted Iranian officials and hailed the package.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman reiterates that the Iranian islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Mousa belong to the Islamic Republic forever.
In response to the final statement of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council’s tenth summit, Mohammad Ali Hosseini expressed regret over the policies of the PGCC member-states, calling them irresponsible and irrational, Presstv reported.
Hosseini declared Iran’s readiness to hold a meeting with the United Arab Emirates in a bid to resolve the misunderstanding over the disputed islands.
The PGCC member-states had announced their support for the UAE over the three disputed Persian Gulf islands during their tenth meeting, which was hosted by Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Iran possesses historical, legal and geographical documents verifying that the three islands belong to the Islamic Republic.

Mohammad Khazaei

Iran’s Ambassador to United Nations Mohammad Khazaei announced Iran’s support for the efforts of the Iraqi government and nation aimed at establishing stability and development in that war-torn state.
He made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing a meeting held at the UN headquarters on the implementation process of a comprehensive project to rebuild Iraq, IRNA reported.
Briefing the meeting on Iran’s stands regarding Iraq, the Iranian envoy said investment on reconstruction, security and stability of Iraq would benefit the entire region.
He praised the Iraqi government and people for their efforts to strengthen the rule of law and establish peace and security in that country, and said these problems need Iraqi unity and solidarity and the assistance of the international community, particularly the neighboring states.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has supported and will support the efforts of the Iraqi government to establish peace and security there,“ Khazaei said.
Condemning terrorist acts in Iraq, he said Iran has been a victim of Iraqi terrorism in the past, referring to attacks on several members of the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad.
Citing UN reports on Iraq’s critical situation, he said Iran attaches great importance to the security of its neighboring country Iraq.
As to measures taken by the Iranian government to consolidate ties with Baghdad, the envoy said the visit to Iraq of the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was an indication to the will of the Iranian leaders to boost friendly ties with Baghdad.
“Iran supports the political process in Iraq and the Iraqi reconstruction,“ he said.
Khazaei condemned baseless claims about Iran’s interference in the Iraqi domestic affairs.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad condemned the Sudanese rebels for attacking defenseless people in central Sudan.
In a telephone conversation late Tuesday with his Sudanese counterpart, Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, the Iranian president expressed hope that problems would be solved through the efforts of the Sudanese government and people’s patience, IRNA reported.
“The enemies of the Sudanese nation are concerned about the vigilance of its Muslim nation,“ he said.
Ahmadinejad noted that Iran and Sudan have common enemies, reiterating that the two countries enjoy amicable bilateral ties in all areas.
He hoped that the upcoming session of Iran-Sudan Economic Commission to be h eld in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum would open a new chapter in bilateral cooperation.
For his part, President Al-Bashir said the enemies of Sudanese nation would receive a crushing response from the Sudanese combatants.
“The enemies will find out that the Sudanese nation is committed to its religious beliefs,“ he said.
Bashir underlined the need for further expansion of Tehran-Khartoum cooperation in all areas.

Masoud Mir-Kazemi

With the declining number of signatories, the motion to impeach Commerce Minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi could not be heard in the outgoing Seventh Majlis.
According to ISNA, the MPs who originally raised the motion had agreed that they would withdraw their signatures if the number of impeachment motion signatures became fewer than 10.
With nine signatures remaining on the motion, the impeachment was cancelled for the second time.
During the Majlis open session on Wednesday, Vice Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar read out a letter signed by 124 lawmakers addressed to MPs who had raised the impeachment motion.
Part of the missive read, “Since we are near the end of the Seventh Majlis’ tenure and since most of you will also be present in the Eighth Majlis and will have the opportunity to pursue the impeachment motion in case problems are not removed and given the fact that ministries of economy and interior do not have ministers, changing the commerce minister may undermine the administration. Hence, we hereby urge you to agree to withdraw the motion for the time being.“
After the letter was read out, the impeachment motion was removed from the Majlis agenda.

Justice Minister Gholamhossein Elham on Tuesday held talks with Chinese Deputy Justice Minister Zhang Sujun on judicial cooperation.
Elham expressed his condolences to the Chinese nation and government on the quake disaster occurred in China that left over 40,000 dead, IRNA reported.
Referring to the two countries joint stand on international, economic and political issues, the Iranian minister called for promoting cooperation in judicial affairs as well.
“Iran and China have adopted similar perspectives on international issues related to establishing permanent security and peace in the world and calling on the big powers to give up unilateralism,“ Elham added.
He said that the similar view point help the two countries come closer to stand up to the bullying powers, especially the US.
Mentioning the increased economic cooperation between Iran and China, Elham called for developing judicial relations and removing the existing obstacles in this respect.
“To overcome such obstacles, Iran and China can make a deal on extradition of prisoners,“ he said.
The Chinese side, for his part, called for further bilateral judicial cooperation between Iran and his country concerning longstanding ties in the fields of politics, economy and culture.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has described Iran as a cultivated, educated and highly-civilized nation.
In a televised interview with the PBS’ Charlie Rose Show, Miliband said Iranians can have their rights in the international system if they accept their obligations under the international system, Presstv reported.
“Iran is a cultivated, educated and highly civilized nation with a huge history behind it,“ he said, adding that it should be a responsible partner of the international system.
“But I think it’s right that we engage through the so-called E-3-plus-three process, the European three, plus the Russians, the Chinese, the Americans...to bring to the fore in Iran the cost of the choices they’re making and the benefits that they’re foregoing.“
Asked about whether the use of force should be on the table, he said, “Well, we say that we are 100 percent focused on a diplomatic effort.“
“For the UK, we are pleased to have diplomatic representation in Iran. It’s right that we do so. I think also, it’s important to say that we are part of a group that deals with Iran. We just don’t deal with Iran bilaterally,“ he said.
Iran has presented its package of proposals to eight international bodies including members of Group 5+1, UN secretary-general and rotating presidency of the UN Security Council. Iran prepared the package in a bid to help resolve problems created by the West.

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati

Secretary of Guardians Council Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said his meetings with Pakistan’s senior officials, thinkers and religious personalities were “very useful“ for expansion of bilateral ties and strengthening the Muslim world.
According to IRIB, Jannati said, “During this visit, which took place upon the invitation of Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology, I explained the GC’s mode of operation, as a determining and effective institution of the Islamic state, to the Pakistani officials. The fact that GC handles the screening process of electoral races was welcomed by Pakistani religious officials.“
Ayatollah Jannati noted that in his talks with Pakistani religious officials, the two sides exchanged views on problems facing the Muslim world and ways of confronting the enemies’ plots.

An Iranian envoy on Tuesday voiced Iran’s readiness to cooperate with the international community and the Afghan government in fighting drugs.
Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Fada-Hossein Maleki, made the remark in a meeting with Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Antonio Maria Costa, in Kabul.
During the meeting, the two officials expressed their concern over increasing poppy cultivation and consumption of hashish in Afghanistan, as well as drug trafficking from Afghanistan to its neighboring states.
The two officials called for rendering more assistance to the Afghan government to implement development projects and the anti-drug campaign.
According to the UN report in 2007, Afghanistan tops the list of 20 countries producing opium in the world. There are one million drug addicts in Afghanistan.
The drugs produced in Afghanistan in 2007 exceeded world demand by as much as 3,000 tons.
Reports also show that, in addition to supplying 90 percent of world opium, Afghanistan has become the world’s biggest supplier of cannabis (cultivation is estimated at 70,000 hectares this year).