Mottaki advises London to revise stance in dealing with Iran

Tehran, July 23, IRNA - Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki here on Tuesday described the recent allegations by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown while visiting the occupied territories in total contradiction with the dominant atmosphere in Geneva negotiations and called on the UK to adopt a constitutive stance by revising its approach.

Mottaki made the remarks in a meeting with the UK Permanent UnderSecretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office Peter Ricketts in Tehran on Tuesday.

Iran has patiently and successfully passed the difficult parts of talks on the country's nuclear dossier and the new situation requiresmutual understanding among the parties.

According to the Information and Press Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the meeting, Mottaki highlighted various aspects of relations between Tehran and London and called for more cooperationto make them more active.

New grounds for bolstering mutual ties should be created, Mottaki said.

Mottaki also said Tehran is unhappy about the arrest of Mr. Tajik aswell as the illogical stance taken by UK to this end.

On current developments in Iraq and Afghanistan mainly in the campaign against drug narcotics, he called on the UK to adopt a much more positive approach which would enable Iran to be a good help inharmonizing a balanced relations.

Peter Ricketts, for his part, voiced his government's willingness tohold mutual talks and deepen ties to help resolve regional issues.

London backs Iran's stance in dealing with restoration of stabilityand security in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said.