EU had better avoid threatening Iran: Asefi

Iranmania:

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi recommended Europeans not to use the language of threat against Iran as it would be of no use, but instead try to take the initiative of cooperation with the country.

According to Iran's Official News Agency (IRNA), Asefi made the remarks in response to a recent comments attributed to French President Jacques Chirac by an Israeli newspaper.

The paper had quoted Chirac as warning Tehran that EU would refer Iran's nuclear case to the UN Security Council.

Speaking to domestic and foreign reporters at his weekly press conference, Asefi doubted the accuracy of the comments attributed to the French president as "they were reflected by an Israeli newspaper." READ MORE

"I'm not sure about the accuracy of Chirac's interview as it was reflected by an Israeli newspaper," Asefi said adding, "However, I recommend the Europeans not to use the language of threat against Iran as it would be of no use."

The spokesman also suggested that finding a way to cooperate with Iran was the best way to deal with the country.

Referring to Iran-EU talks in London last Wednesday, Asefi said that the talks were "unofficial but clear and transparent" at the same time.

He noted that a message by Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Hassan Rowhani was conveyed to the three European ministers.

Asefi said that Rowhani explicitly pointed in his message to what would be the consequences and message of any prolongation of Iran-EU negotiations for the region and for the negotiating parties.

"It was clearly explained that what could be the consequences of any delay in the process of talks and what are the minimum expectations required by Tehran in order to avoid any challenges in its process," Asefi said.

Noting that Tehran has not yet received the EU's "detailed proposals," on its nuclear case which were supposed to be handed over to Iran either by the end of July or the beginning of August, the spokesman stressed that Iran would accept EU proposals just in case they included all Tehran's minimum expectations.