Rafsanjani expressed regret that Iran as a main regional player didn’t participate in the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain last week.
“When I noticed that Iran was not present at the Manama conference I started thinking that how it is possible to establish security without Iran. Why the U.S. defense secretary should be the star of the conference and give strategy to regional countries.”
In the Manama conference U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates called Iran the main threat to Persian Gulf littoral states. However, some participants reacted angrily to the statement by Gates and said Israel's nuclear weapons posted the main threat to regional countries.
12 December 2007: Mehr News Agency
TEHRAN, Dec. 12 (MNA) – Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani here on Wednesday called for a consensus among political factions especially as the country is bracing for parliamentary elections
“With the participation of all influential political currents we can establish an effective unity and cooperation ahead of the elections,” Rafsanjani told the 4th congress of Moderation and Development Party.
“It is time to stop conflicts, charges, violence, pushing (the rivals) into a corner, and making the people indifferent (toward national issues).
He said if the upcoming parliament represents the public opinion it can be a “savior of the revolution and country and a front for regional security.”
Iran’s parliamentary elections will be held on March 14.
Manama conference
Rafsanjani expressed regret that Iran as a main regional player didn’t participate in the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain last week.
“When I noticed that Iran was not present at the Manama conference I started thinking that how it is possible to establish security without Iran. Why the U.S. defense secretary should be the star of the conference and give strategy to regional countries.”
In the Manama conference U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates called Iran the main threat to Persian Gulf littoral states. However, some participants reacted angrily to the statement by Gates and said Israel's nuclear weapons posted the main threat to regional countries.
Economic situation and oil prices
Pointing to economic indexes given by the Moderation and Development Party Secretary General Mohammadreza Nobakht in the last two years, the Expediency Council chairman said, “These figures and indexes… are alarming.”
“Here is not the issue of reformism or conservatism. We are all sitting in one ship and moving in a turbulent ocean.”
On the rise of oil price he said, “Oil price was always one of our main problems, but today that this issue has been solved more works should be done.”
NIE report not to U.S. benefit: Rafsanjani
Rafsanjani said the U.S. intelligence report on Iran’s nuclear activities is not to the benefit of the United States.
In a report released last week, the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) said Iran has no nuclear weapons program and probably can’t produce enough uranium for a bomb until 2010 at the earliest even if it wishes to do so.
As a signatory to the Non proliferation Treaty, Iran has right to use nuclear technology for civilian purposes.
The report said that U.S. allegations about Iran’s nuclear objectives have been exaggerated for at least two years, AFP reported.
“This report is a very important issue which we should think about it more deeply because we have gone to the extremes in analyzing it.”
Rafsanjani stated, “In my opinion this report will not benefit the U.S.; it is also not reasonable to think it carries a hidden plot.”
“The major part of the report is that Iran is not seeking atomic arms but this is not new and the U.S. had already known this. However, the reason for the time to release the report should be inspected. I believe that the Democrats or independent experts have issued the report.”
A report issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency on November 8 confirmed the transparency of Iran’s nuclear program and said it found Tehran to be generally truthful about key aspects of its nuclear history.
IAEA and NIE’s statements “have changed the situation. They have made it more difficult for the U.S. to impose new sanctions on Iran or launch a military strike against the country,” Rafsanjani opined.
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