Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

The presidents of Iran and Russia expressed hope for a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue on the eve of key talks being held in Geneva.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev held their first telephone talks late on Friday, a day before the talks on Saturday in Geneva, the Iranian media and Kremlin said.
“In the Geneva negotiations...we can examine ways to make decisions in different fields and help resolve the existing issues,“ IRIB quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.

Dmitry Medvedev

He also expressed satisfaction over the current state of ties between Tehran and Moscow, which has substantial economic interests in the Islamic Republic.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, quoted Medvedev as urging Iran “to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency to clarify questions pending about the Iranian nuclear program.“
“The Russian president reiterated his firm position on resolving the situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear program only through political and diplomatic means,“ it added.
Medvedev told Ahmadinejad that he hoped for a “substantive and constructive dialogue“ in Geneva on Saturday, it said.
Russia is one of the six world powers that last month gave Iran a proposal offering it full negotiations on a range of incentives if it suspends uranium enrichment activities.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana will hold talks on the package with Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, on Saturday, in a meeting that for the first time will also be attended by a US envoy.
The two presidents also expressed satisfaction with the current level of Tehran-Moscow relations and termed it “very high“.

A written message from Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was delivered to his Japanese counterpart Masahiko Komura on Friday.
The message was handed over to Japan’s deputy foreign minister by Iran’s Ambassador in Tokyo Abbas Araqchi, IRNA reported.
In his message, the Iranian foreign minister commented on the failure of the recent meeting of G8 in resolving major world crises, which was held on Hokkaido Island, Japan.
Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States constitute the Group of Eight industrialized nations.
Mottaki referred to the food crisis, poverty, energy shortage, global warming, climate change and underdevelopment of Africa as problems threatening the future of humanity.
Stressing that injustice and spiritual poverty are major crises endangering nations, he regretted that these issues were not discussed during the recent G8 summit.
Outlining the latest developments in Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, Mottaki voiced Tehran’s readiness to hold constructive talks with the EU representative.
As to Tehran-Tokyo friendly relations, the Iranian foreign minister called for further expansion of bilateral ties.
Mottaki also expressed satisfaction with the release of abducted Japanese student, Satoshi Nakamura, last month.
Nakamura, a 23-year-old Japanese student was abducted by bandits on October 8, 2007, in Iran’s southeast region bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan as he headed from his hotel for the ancient mud-built citadel of Bam in Kerman province.
Esmail Shahbakhsh, a bandit, was blamed for the kidnapping.
The Japanese government expressed its profound gratitude to Iranian officials for having made all-out efforts to secure Nakamura’s safe release.

General Ehsan-ul-Haq

A senior lawmaker called for forging strategic cooperation with Pakistan, noting that Iran attaches great significance to peace and security in the eastern neighboring country.
In a meeting with Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff of Pakistan’s Military on Saturday, General Ehsan-ul-Haq, in Tehran, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the head of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said Iran and Pakistan enjoy historical relations, Mehr News Agency reported.
Noting that Iran and Pakistan have common interests in the region, the MP called for expansion of ties in political and economic fields.
The MP noted that the officials of the two Muslim states should boost parliamentary relations.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi

Boroujerdi also praised the recent successes of Lebanon’s Hezbollah in releasing five Lebanese fighters from Israeli prisoners.
On Wednesday, five Lebanese prisoners were freed from Israeli prisons in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured in 2006, prior to the 33-day war that dealt a blow to the Israeli regime’s army.
Referring to friendly ties between Iran and Pakistan, the general said the Pakistani nation will not forget the recognition of Iran for the country’s independence from Britain.
“The two neighboring countries have huge potentials for expansions of ties,“ he said.

Mehdi Ghazanfari

Foreign investments in Iran require an authorization permit without any complications, said a deputy commerce minister.
In a meeting with South Korean private and public entrepreneurs designed to explain foreign investment rules and introduce Iran’s economic and trade capabilities, Mehdi Ghazanfari also discussed Iran’s ongoing privatization process of its industries and incentives for foreign investments, especially in Iran’s free trade zones, Presstv reported.
Ghazanfari explained the existence of foreign investments authorized for the private sector, adding that foreign investments in Iran are not subject to any limitation.
“Privatization in Iran’s industries goes back 20 years but the trend has accelerated, making Iran a desirable place for investment,“ he said.
Currently, mining, rail transport, aviation, insurance and banking industries are being privatized in Iran with foreign investments in these sectors facing no investment limits.
“Exports from industries that absorb foreign investments are also guaranteed no restrictions,“ he said.
Ghazanfari noted that foreign investments in Iran are completely insured by export credit institutions against risks that may not be related to normal business risks.

Guardians Council Spokesman Abbasali Kadkhodaie said the West can show its goodwill in resolving Iran’s nuclear issue by referring it back to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Speaking to IRNA on Saturday, Kadkhodaie added that the West can create suitable grounds to this end during talks between Iran and major powers currently underway in Geneva.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana is scheduled to hold talks on the package with Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, on Saturday, in a meeting that for the first time will also be attended by a US envoy.
“Iran is to continue its peaceful nuclear activities within the Non-Proliferation Treaty in line with international rules and regulations,“ he said.
Kadkhodaie, who is also a university lecturer, noted that since the referral of Iran’s nuclear issue to the UN Security Council was against international regulations, the country strongly demands the case to be handled by IAEA.
“IAEA is the only legitimate body that can remove all probable ambiguities (over the issue),“ he said, adding that referring Iran’s nuclear issue to UNSC had no legal base and was a politically-motivated move.
Kadkhodaie stressed that Iran has always remained committed to international laws and will continue the same policy.
“We should strongly safeguard the interests of future generations,“ he said.
“Unfortunately, a number of international organizations such as UNSC have adopted double standards in dealing with global developments.“

Iran successfully launched the production line of advanced surveillance systems as part of its campaign for increasing defense self-sufficiency.
Head of the Self-Sufficiency Unit of the Islamic Revolution’s Guards Corps’ Ground Forces, Colonel Nasser Arab-Beigi, said on Saturday his unit is actively involved in the design and production of advanced electronic warfare equipment, Fars News Agency reported.
Arab-Beigi noted that Optical Radars and Passive Optoelectronic Rangefinders are among Iran’s newly-developed equipment.
“The systems can easily detect enemy aircraft and help reduce the interference between radar stations,“ he said. Iran’s campaign for self-sufficiency in the production of military equipment is aimed at enhancing its deterrence capability against threats from the US and Israel.
The development followed in the heels of Defense Ministry’s plans to unveil 30 new military hardware projects developed by Iranian experts in the current year.
Speaking on the sidelines of a Cabinet meeting, Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said Iran’s Defense Ministry would unveil projects to mass produce electronic warfare, aerospace, naval, and ground equipment in the coming months.

Esmaeel Kosari

The national resolve and strong logic of Iranians have prevented enemies from achieving their goal of halting Iran’s nuclear program, a Majlis commissioner said on Saturday.
Vice Chairman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Esmaeel Kosari also said the resistance of Iranian nation to the western psychological warfare and economic sanctions has led to a shift in the US policy vis-ˆ-vis Iran, IRNA reported.
He made the remarks while commenting on the participation of US Undersecretary of State William Burns in talks between Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, and EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, which are currently underway in Geneva.
Kosari also said Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities comply with the rules of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“All western countries know very well that Tehran’s nuclear activities only pursue civilian purposes,“ he said.

TurkeyÕs Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (r) and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki speak during a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, on July 18.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul says Iran plays a significant role in establishing peace and security in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon.
“Iran has a significant status in regional developments,“ President Gul said in a meeting with Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Ankara on Friday, adding that Ankara is keen on raising its relations with Iran to the highest possible level, Presstv reported.
Mottaki wrapped up his daylong visit to Ankara and returned home on Friday. His visit took place at the official invitation of his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan.
Gul hailed the favorable trend of talks between Iran and the world’s major powers on its nuclear program.
Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili and EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, accompanied by representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, namely China, Russia, Britain, France and the US plus Germany, are scheduled to hold talks in Geneva on Saturday.
Mottaki said in the meeting with the Turkish president that Tehran and Ankara enjoy plenty of common grounds for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in economic fields.
He expressed hope that the Geneva talks on Iran’s nuclear program would be held in a constructive atmosphere.
In another meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mottaki pointed to energy, gas and power projects being implemented jointly by Iran and Turkey, adding that the two countries could also bolster cooperation in the mines and transportation sectors through joint ventures.
Erdogan hailed the growing trend of Tehran-Ankara relations in political, economic and cultural fields, expressing hope that implementation of power plants and refinery projects in Iran by Turkish companies would prepare the ground for further cooperation.
“Turkey believes that Tehran and Ankara should put a gas project to transport Iranian gas to Europe via Turkey on the agenda of mutual cooperation,“ Erdogan said in his meeting with Mottaki.
Framework
On Saturday, Mottaki hoped that talks with the EU foreign policy chief will create a “framework for negotiations“ to end the nuclear standoff.
Talking to Alalam on the sidelines of a conference in Tehran, Mottaki also predicted that talks would be dragged into further sessions “so the parties would voice their views and strike an agreement which is satisfactory for both sides“.
One of the prominent participants at the talks is US Undersecretary of State William Burns.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice confirmed on Friday that the US made a major policy shift on Iran by sending a senior envoy to the nuclear talks.
Mottaki said Iran regarded as “positive and constructive the arrangements made for Geneva talks“. “I hope that today’s talks will lead to a framework for negotiations,“ he said.
“We hope that in today’s talks a modality and framework that satisfies both sides is compiled.“

A view of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in resort of the Persian Gulf.

Energy Minister Parviz Fattah has said the country’s first nuclear power plant will become operational “within a year“.
“As the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has announced, the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant will be launched within a year,“ Fattah told Mehr News Agency.
“Had the nuclear plant been launched, we could have reduced the level of electricity shortage we are facing this year by nearly 50 percent,“ he said.
Fattah stressed that if the nuclear plant is not ready by next year, Iran will have a 1,000-megawatt power shortage next year. Atomstroiexport, Russia’s nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly, has signed a contract to build Iran’s first nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr.
Recently, the Russian premier’s office announced that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin discussed the construction of Bushehr plant in a telephone conversation.
Ahmadinejad and Putin “underlined the need for timely construction of the atomic power station at Bushehr“, a statement from Putin’s office said.

The European Union wants “solid relations“ with Iran in different areas, including the nuclear technology, EU foreign policy chief’s spokeswoman said.
Cristina Gallach, who discussed the Saturday meeting in Geneva with Presstv, said, “The EU position is that we want very much a solid relationship with Iran, one that encompasses all areas, including the nuclear issue, political and economic relations.“
EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, will meet Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, in Geneva on Saturday. The meeting will also bring together envoys from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany.
Gallach stressed that the world powers that have offered “a generous package of incentives“ to Iran last month want to see what the response of Iran is to the package to start a new round of negotiations with Tehran.
She expressed hope that an “appropriate framework“ for negotiations with Iran would be worked out in the Geneva talks.
Pointing to Washington’s decision to send a top diplomat to Geneva to attend the talks on Iran’s nuclear program, Gallach said that the US and other countries that have sent envoys to the meeting want Iran’s nuclear issue to be solved through negotiation.

Condoleezza Rice

The United States has shifted position on diplomacy with Iran by sending a senior envoy to Geneva to participate in nuclear talks with Iran’s top negotiator, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice confirmed on Friday.
But she insisted that Tehran must suspend its enrichment and reprocessing of nuclear materials for substantive talks with Washington, AFP reported.
“The United States doesn’t have any permanent enemies,“ Rice said in response to a reporter’s question on the unexpected move to send a diplomat to meet directly with Iran’s nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in Geneva on Saturday.
“And we hope this signal we’re sending, that we fully support the track that Iran could take for a better relationship with the international community, is one the United States stands fully behind.“
“We have been very clear that any country can change course,“ Rice added.
“This decision to send Undersecretary (William) Burns is an affirmation of the policy that we have been pursuing with our European allies...for some time now.“

Strong Signal
Rice called the move “a strong signal to the entire world that we have been very serious about this diplomacy and we will remain very serious about this diplomacy“.
She pointed out that she had endorsed the proposal from the Group 5+1--the United States, France, Britain, China, Russia and Germany--on incentives to advance talks with Iran on halting its nuclear program.
She called sending Burns to Geneva to meet with Jalili and EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana the “book end“ to that process.
“But it should be very clear to everyone the United States has a condition for the beginning of negotiations with Iran, and that condition remains the verifiable suspension of Iran’s enrichment and reprocessing activities,“ Rice said.
Asked in an interview with CNN, excerpts of which were aired on Friday, whether sending Burns to Geneva was a major policy change, Rice said, “I acknowledge that what we’ve done is to make a step that we think demonstrates to everyone our seriousness about this process.
“But what has not changed is that the United States is determined to have negotiations only when Iran has suspended its enrichment and reprocessing. That’s when the United States can join.“
Asked if Saturday’s meeting is a one-shot deal, Rice replied, “This is.“
“We have one chance to receive the Iranian response. I transmitted the proposal. (Burns) will receive the response,“ she told CNN.
“He will listen, and if Iran is ready to suspend, then the United States will be there.“
In Tehran, Jalili on Friday expressed optimism that weekend talks would be constructive, provided Washington came with the right approach.

Welcome Contact
Two top US senators have welcomed Washington’s decision to attend for the first time international talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
“I think it’s a positive initiative. I think it’s a very sensible offer,“ US senator and former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry told Press TV on Saturday in an exclusive interview. “I hope that Iran will engage in a truly legitimate discussion.“
In an exclusive interview with Presstv, Democratic Senator Joe Biden called on the Bush administration to engage in direct contact with Iran after the upcoming nuclear talks.
“The administration is now proceeding in the right course and I think we should have direct negotiations, direct discussions after the G5+1 with Iranians if they are willing,“ said Biden.