Tehran, June 24, IRNA -- Ali Ahani, Deputy Foreign Minister for Euro-American Affairs strongly rejected the current full military readiness alert of the U.S. naval fleet in the Persian Gulf. "Even though this particular readiness is unrelated to Iran, our standing policy has always been against the presence of foreign military forces in the Persian Gulf," stressed the official in an exclusive interview conducted by the English-language daily `Iran News' on Sunday. He warned that "the continued presence of these forces is detrimental to the stability of the region and the national interests of the Persian Gulf countries." But he noted that the current episode is perhaps due to the threats received by several American embassies in the region from Osama Bin Laden, adding that the Iranian Armed Forces are however ready to defend their country's territorial integrity and national sovereignty in case of any provocations by U.S. forces or any other foreign powers. The U.S. is worried about the expanding friendly bilateral and multilateral ties between Iran and the countries of the region such as Saudi Arabia, he added. "These countries are all sovereign and independent nations with distinctive national interest, not necessarily influenced by the Americans. Any action by the U.S. or anybody else to disrupt Iran's amiable relations with the Persian Gulf states is totally unacceptable and thoroughly illogical," stressed the official. Denouncing the recent U.S. allegations against Iran accusing it of complicity in the Khobar Towers terrorist bombing of 1996 in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, he said: "We have categorically denied these outrageous allegations for a long time. And in spite of the American government's wishes and desires, the U.S. Justice Department could not find any rational evidence or documentation linking Iran to the Khobar episode." He warned the U.S. to think twice before instigating and undertaking any further military provocations and actions. As for the extension of U.S. unilateral economic sanctions against Iran, he said that the action is "contradictory to international law, which cannot be acceptable to the international community. "Fortunately, Western nations and even those considered as friends and allies of the U.S. did not support this American move. The only thing these sanctions accomplish is to take away from American oil, gas and energy companies participation in the rich Iranian energy sector and relinquish this privilege to Europeans and others. "So you see, it is only the American side that is suffering from these sanctions." But, he added, "we should never overlook the undue influence of the Israelis and the Zionists in American foreign policy decision making." "In any event, these sanctions," he added "should be considered as a hostile action by the American government toward the Iranian nation. In such an atmosphere, talk of discussion and relations with the U.S. is naive." However, he said, "actions speak louder than words and the new American administration's deeds in both redeeming their past wrongs toward Iran and rethinking the failed policies of the previous U.S. administrations, will judge whether there will be any positive movements in the U.S.-Iran relations front."

Iran rejects U.S. suggestion of involvement in Khobar bombing

June 22, 2001 Posted: 1:28 PM EDT (1728 GMT)

U.S. accusations may hurt Iranian President Mohammad Khatami's push for better U.S.-Iran relations

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran rejected U.S. allegations Friday that its officials were involved in a 1996 blast that killed 19 Americans in military barracks in Saudi Arabia, and the Saudis complained that Washington should leave prosecutions to its government.

The two Persian Gulf oil giants criticized the announcement Thursday of indictments in Washington against 13 Saudis and a Lebanese in the June 25, 1996, attack in the Saudi Arabian city of Khobar.

The Saudi defense minister, Prince Sultan, appeared annoyed by the U.S. step.

"Every country has the right to hold discussions with anyone present in that country, but it doesn't have the right to take any procedures," He said in an apparent reference to the indictments. "Only Saudi Arabia has the right to take procedures."

Saudi Arabia, the top American ally in the Gulf, has feared that U.S. attempts to implicate Tehran in the bombing could drag it into conflict with Iran just as the two countries' relations are beginning to improve. In Iran, the allegations could boost hard-line clerics opposed to reformist President Mohammad Khatami, who has sought better ties with the country's most bitter rival, the United States.

"This issue concerns Saudi Arabia alone," said Sultan -- the brother of King Fahd -- at a San'a, Yemen, airport before returning home. He said the United States should give the kingdom all documents, evidence and names of the accused.

In Iran's first official reaction to the announcement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Assefi said Friday that the "U.S. judiciary has leveled charges against Iran which have no legal and judicial basis," the Islamic Republic News Agency reported. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the 46-count indictment Thursday. He said that "elements of the Iranian government inspired, supported and supervised" members of Saudi Hezbollah, the Shiite group blamed for the bombing.

U.S. officials, however, said there is no proof as yet that Iranian authorities sponsored the bombing.

Assefi called the U.S. accusations part of "the ceaseless efforts of the United States to pressure the Islamic Republic" and reiterated Iran's disapproval of terrorism in any form.

Iran has denied any involvement in the Khobar attack or with Saudi Hezbollah.

Saudi Hezbollah was founded by members of Saudi Arabia's Shiite Muslim minority who fled into exile in the 1980s to escape what they said was persecution by the Sunni majority. Most were from Eastern Province, which lies along the Gulf, opposite Iran. Many of the exiles wound up in Iran.

Some of the 14 suspects are believed to be in custody in Saudi Arabia, and others are thought to be in different locations. Still others are at large. The United States does not have an extradition treaty with Saudi Arabia.

Investigations into the Khobar blast have brought some friction between Washington and Riyadh. An American request to directly interrogate those arrested or detained was refused, although U.S. officials were allowed to attend some interrogation sessions and were given access to documents relating to the case.

Iranians on Friday shrugged off the suggestion their country was involved in the bombing and warned that trying to implicate Iran is likely to further strain relations between Tehran and Washington.

"We've always been accused of terrorist activities, but there's never proof," said Abolqasem Golabi, a 43-year-old civil servant. "This will have no impact on Iran and the hostile policy on Iran from the U.S. continues."

Hamid Mozaffari, 39, a shop owner in downtown Tehran, said: "Even the Saudis refused to accuse Iran. This accusation is meaningless. They don't want Iran-Saudi relations to improve further."