Iranian Government Rejects US Accusations - 2002-02-19

Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi stated that among the one hundred individuals recently detained at the Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan border, none are members of Al-Qaeda. Kharrazi mentioned that the detainees include Europeans, Arabs, and some from North Africa, with the majority being women and children. He did not specify why these individuals wanted to enter Iran. The Iranian government has contacted the embassies of the detainees to arrange for their return to their home countries. The US government has accused Iran of harboring some members of the ousted Taliban regime and Al-Qaeda terrorists. However, the Iranian government has denied these accusations. Additionally, Iran has rejected US claims that it is attempting to disrupt the interim Afghan government. Kharrazi stated that Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai's upcoming visit to Tehran is evidence of Iran's support for the interim Afghan government. Meanwhile, the official Iranian news agency reported that Iran has established a special office in Tehran to participate in the reconstruction of Afghanistan to coordinate its aid efforts. Kharrazi claimed that since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the US government has been trying to create a global dictatorship. He also reiterated President Bush's statement that Iran is one of the three members of the 'Axis of Evil' is unfounded. In his recent remarks before a joint session of the US Congress, President Bush labeled Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as part of an evil axis supporting terrorism and seeking weapons of mass destruction.