LIAR LIAR , PANTS ON FIRE

Iran Negotiator claims that IRI's Nuclear Program is 'No Threat to Israel'



MUNICH, Germany -- Ali Larijani, speaking at a forum that gathered the world's top security officials, said Iran doesn't have aggressive intentions toward any nation and that Iran's nuclear program is not a threat to Israel and that the country is prepared to settle all outstanding issues with the International Atomic Energy Agency within three weeks. He went on to say : "That Iran is willing to threaten Israel is wrong,"and that: "We pose no threat and if we are conducting nuclear research and development we are no threat to Israel. " We have no intention of aggression against any country."and that : "I have written to Mr. ElBaradei to say we are ready to within three weeks to have the modality to solve all the outstanding issues with you," Larijani said at the forum. "Today we announce to you that the political will of Iran is aimed at the negotiated settlement of the case and we don't want to aggravate the situation in our region," Larijani said. "We know that this issue can be settled in a constructive dialogue and we welcome that."



In a wide-ranging speech, Larijani blamed the U.S. occupation of Iraq for fomenting terrorism in the region, and said Tehran's influence was having a stabilising effect on the situation in that country. "Terrorists are justifying their presence in Iraq because of the occupation, but the Americans are forced to increase the size of their forces because of terrorists. How do we break this vicious cycle?" Larijani said the violence in Iraq was limited mainly to regions where the main U.S. garrisons were based. "The secure parts of Iraq have two characteristics -- they border Iran and in those provinces U.S. troops are not present," he said.

In Israel, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev dismissed Larijani's comments, saying Iran's government was trying to convince the international community to believe that their intentions are benign. "The fact is that they have failed in this attempt and there is a wall-to-wall consensus that the Iranian nuclear program is indeed military and aggressive and a threat to world peace."