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Iran Urges US to Move First for Bilateral Ties
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi Kamal said here Monday that the United States should take the first step towards establishing Tehran-Washington ties.
He told a press conference co-attended by his visiting Tunisian counterpart Habib Ben Yahia that U.S. policies have put restrictions on Iran, which will respond to alteration of the existing U.S. stance.
Referring to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's claim that Iran should take the first step towards setting up bilateral ties, Kharazi said the U.S. should first do away with its ineffective policy on Iran.
Touching on the possibility that the U.S. Congress is set to extend sanctions against Iran for another five years, Kharazi said it would only help to prevent American companies from access to Iran's lucrative energy market.
The U.S. Congress is to vote for the renewal of the 1996 Iran- Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA), which expires in August. The White House has proposed extending it for only two years, but U.S. conservative lawmakers are saying they would take a tough line against both Iran and Libya.
Iran believes American companies are not barred from presenting in Iran's domestic market, Kharazi said, adding Tehran welcomes those willing to play a role in its economic development program, especially in the fields of oil and gas.
"The American community has its own interests and needs and it should not be influenced by interests of others,'' said Kharazi.
Many of the U.S. companies barred from doing business with Iran have cast doubt on the effectiveness of the embargo. They have been pushing hard for waiving the sanctions.
Meanwhile, European and Asian energy giants are already saying " No" to U.S. sanction batons.
Italy's Eni group, in defiance to the U.S. sanctions, has inked a multi-million-dollar deal with Iran in a bid to clinch its own share in Iran's Darkhuwain oil field.
The Eni's move was followed by Japan, which has secured its favorable position in developing Iran's giant Azadegan oil field, estimated to have 26 billion to 40 billion barrels of oil reserves.
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