Iranian parliament speaker: Iran doubts US good-will over regional developments

Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said on Wednesday that some western powers have launched a propaganda camapign against Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities and Tehran doubt any good-will on the part of the US and a number of bullying powers.

Larijani made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Japanese counterpart Takahiro Yokomichi on Wednesday.

He described his meeting with high ranking Japanese officials as very ‘fruitful’.

Given historical, cultural, economic and political commonalities between the two sides, the two parliaments can play a leading role in expanding relations between the two countries, he said.

Iran has identified very good investment opportunities in Japan which should be seized, he said, adding that the ground has been prepared for expansion of cultural and scientific cooperation between Iran and Japan.

The Japanese premier has proposed establishing a union of East Asian states which is a wise offer, he said, adding that Iran praises such an idea and believes that the union could play an effective role under the current global circumstances.

Iran is ready to help materialize the idea, said the Iranian Majlis speaker.

Iran’s principled policy is based on democracy, peace and security of the region and believes that existence of weapons of mass destruction will be harmful to the international community, he said.

“During my current visit I would like to visit Nakazaki city to see for myself the atrocities of the US against Japanese people,” he said.

Referring to Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities, he said, Japanese officials should be quite confident that Iran’s nuclear program are similar to Japan's and is for peaceful purposes.

Iran has no plan to produce nuclear bombs, underlined the Iranian Majlis speaker.

“We appreciate Japan’s approach to Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities and believes that Japan has a much better understanding of global realities and developments,” he said.

Close cooperation between Iran and Japan on Afghanistan is a good model for other countries, he said.

The oppressed Afghan nation has suffered huge loses inflicted by terrorists, he said.

Afghanistan's neighboring states can play a vital role in restoring peace and stability to the country, he said.

The Japanese parliament speaker said that he and his Iranian counterpart has agreed on a joint measure to reduce weapons of mass destruction.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Japan can also help resolve problems in the war-torn Afghanistan, he pointed out.

Given their cultural and historical commonalities, the two countries can affect regional equations, he said.

/Irna/