Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said yesterday that
the US was in no position to launch military strike against the
Islamic Republic, stressing that talks were the only choice to
resolve the nuclear standoff.
"We do not see the US in a position to impose another crisis on
its tax payers by starting another war in the region," Mottaki told
reporters during a press conference with his Bahraini counterpart,
in a response to US Vice President Dick Cheney's warnings over
Tehran earlier yesterday.
"But the Islamic Republic of Iran has prepared for two
scenarios. We prefer the second one which is based on dialogue and
constructive interaction," Mottaki added.
During his trip to Australia, Cheney yesterday refused to rule
out the possibility of taking military action against Iran, saying
that "all options are still on the table" over Tehran's nuclear
programs.
Cheney said Washington was still working with other countries to
persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear programs and prefers to
achieve the goal peacefully.
"But all options are still on the table," Cheney said, adding
that it is still being debated in the US how to move next to deal
with Tehran over the nuclear issue.
In an interview with US media, carried out in Australia and
released on Friday, Cheney said that the US will "do everything" it
can to stop Iran's nuclear programs.
Mottaki also stressed that dialogue was the only choice to
resolve the current deadlock, urging the US and its allies to
return to the negotiation table.
"The only way to reach a solution for disputes is negotiations
and talks. Therefore, we want the London meeting to make a brave
decision and resume talks with Iran," Mottaki said.
The US, along with some other Western countries, has been
accusing Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons under the cover
of civilian nuclear programs. Tehran has rejected such accusations,
saying that its nuclear programs are designed for peaceful use of
nuclear energy.
The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1737 on December 23,
2006, demanding Iran stop all enrichment-related and reprocessing
activities including research and development, and work on all
heavy water-related projects, in 60 days.
Iran refused to heed the Security Council's demand by the
deadline that fell on February 21.
(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2007)
