Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Iran Denies Visiting Kuwaiti FM Carries US Message

Xinhuanet:
Iran denied on Tuesday an allegation made by some Arabic media that the Kuwaiti foreign minister had carried US message to Tehran during his recent visit, the official IRNA news agency reported. READ MORE

"Such news reports are untrue and unfounded. The Kuwaiti official, in his visit to Tehran, carried congratulatory message of senior Kuwaiti officials to high-ranking Iranian officials," an informed foreign ministry source was quoted as saying.

"Talks were also held on consolidation of bilateral ties and strengthening of regional cooperation," the source added.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Sabah paid an official visit to Iran on Sunday, during which he submitted Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah's letter to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iran and the United States have been hostile to each other since1979 when a group of Iranian students took over the US embassy in Tehran and held 52 people hostage for 444 days.

Washington, accusing Iran of developing nuclear weapons and sponsoring terrorists, has labeled Iran as part of the "axis of evil" and imposed sanctions on the country.

In return, Iran terms the United Sates as the "enemy of the Islam", calling on all Muslims to frustrate its attempt to control the Middle East.

Iranian president Ahmadinejad has stressed several times that Iran has no intention and sees no necessity of improving ties with the United States since he was elected in late June.