Larijani warns Western governments anti-Iran provocation

25 June 2008

Tehran-Majlis speaker Ali Larijani on Wednesday warned the Western governments anti-Iran provocation and urged them to take the warning made by the UN nuclear agency chief, Mohamed ElBaradei seriously.

"A little time was left for having interaction with Iran," Larijani said referring to the lack of confidence created by recent acts of Western powers.

"The final whistle is going to be blown for your defeated game," the speaker said criticizing the Western governments for double-standard policy towards Iran.

Larijani also criticized big powers for sending a package of proposals to Iran on one hand and imposing new financial restrictions against the country, on the other.

"If you are willing to hold talks with Iran over the proposed package then why you have adopted a confrontational approach before the package was studied," Larijani said.

He warned big powers against making actions which "will cost them heavily."
"Do not add to the cost you should pay with making wrong assessments," Larijani warned the Western powers.

Noting that West was "on the verge of a deadlock," he said, "Iranians and regional nations are monitoring your moves." "Iran's Majlis is carefully scrutinizing your behavior," Larijani said adding that "there will be a change in direction, if Majlis feels you are using talks with Iran as a means to justify your illegal actions."

"Iran's peaceful nuclear program and its human rights record have been made a pretext for political and media deception of certain Western powers."

Referring to the latest financial restrictions imposed on Iran's Melli Bank in Europe, Larijani said, "We recommend you to take seriously the warning made by Mr. ElBaradei and not to provoke Iran because you may face with a situation in which having interaction with Iran would become difficult."

However, "logical and constructive signals are required" from the Western governments for making any further interaction with Iran, Larijani said referring to the lack of confidence which was resulted from recent moves of the Western powers.