IRAN/US: A leading Iranian conservative and former president, Mr Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, yesterday denounced President Bush's warning to Tehran over Afghanistan, saying "threats" would not work with the "revolutionary Iranian people".
The Americans "carry out extortion while they make threats", Mr Rafsanjani said during the Muslim weekly prayers in Tehran. "That works with those who are afraid of them, but not with Iran, not with the revolutionary Iranian people, which you have witnessed on several occasions," he said, addressing himself to Mr Bush.
The tone of the exchange augured badly for a resumption of contacts between Iran and the US, whose diplomatic ties were severed 22 years ago, despite progress in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. Iran denounced the attacks on New York and Washington, although it opposed the US military strikes on Afghanistan.
Mr Bush warned on Thursday that Tehran must hand over suspected members of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network who may be seeking refuge in Iran, and would also face consequences if it tried to destabilise the interim government of neighbouring Afghanistan. "If they in any way shape or form try to destabilise the government, the coalition (waging the US-led war on terrorism) will deal with them, in diplomatic ways initially," Mr Bush said.
US officials are reportedly worried that Iran may be using arms shipments and cash in a bid to limit neighbouring Afghanistan's pro-Western tilt and is enlisting members of al-Qaeda in the effort.
Mr Bush said said this would be unacceptable, saying "either you're with us or against us, and any nation that thwarts our ability to root terror out where it exists will be held to account." Iran rejected suggestions it had been trying to undermine the new government in Afghanistan or harbour members of al-Qaeda.