(2 Oct 2008)
1. Wide of event at Asia Society
2. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Foreign Minister (includes cutaway):
"We think that whatever candidate becomes the next president of the US, he will have no other option but to bring about new developments in American foreign policy and try to improve to reach out to other countries around the world, including the countries in the Middle East. We of course take note of the comments that are made by previous presidents, which are no longer in the White House, and also candidates which are not yet elected as the president. But comments made and promises given, before a candidate is in the White House, cannot be seriously considered."
3. Mid of photographer
4 . SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Foreign Minister (includes two cutaways):
"They continue with a huge lie, perpetuating this huge lie, they are saying that Iran wants to have the bomb. Because once there is talk of a bomb, then you can distort the international environment. Even US intelligence agencies have announced that Iran is not working to produce a bomb, but they refuse to accept."
5. Mid of Mottaki with moderators
6. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Foreign Minister (includes one cutaway):
"All of these allegations, similar to the previous set of allegations, are baseless. We are not going to allow ourselves to be pushed into an unending road, a road which will be directed by the US."
7. Mid of Mottaki shaking hands with moderator, to applause
STORYLINE:
Iran's top diplomat acknowledged on Thursday his nation is closely monitoring the US election, anticipating major changes from whoever occupies the White House next.
But apparently Iranian leaders aren't taking either John McCain or Barack Obama, or running mates Joe Biden or Sarah Palin, too seriously just yet.
"We of course take note of the comments that are made," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told the Asia Society. "But comments made, promises given before a candidate is in the White House cannot be seriously considered."
Much of Mottaki's talk and question-and-answer session to a group of about 200 people focused on the chilly US-Iranian relationship and continuing disputes over Iran's nuclear program and ambitions.
"We also think that whatever candidate becomes the next president of the US, he will have no other option but to bring about new developments in American foreign policy, and try to reach out to other countries around the world, including the countries in the Middle East," Mottaki said.
He said his nation would not allow itself to be bossed around by US leaders, but expressed hope the standoff between Iran and the West over its nuclear development program would soon be resolved.
"All of these allegations similar to the previous set of allegations are baseless," Mottaki said of the negotiations that his nation has been conducting with the five permanent members of the Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US - plus Germany.
"We are not going to allow ourselves to be pushed into an unending road, a road that will be directed by the US."
A day earlier, Mottaki met at the United Nations with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to discuss the situation in the Middle East, Iran's nuclear issue and developments in the Caucasus.
The United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a fourth resolution on Saturday aimed at forcing Iran to suspend its enrichment of uranium and comply with international efforts to monitor its nuclear program.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
