Interview With Iranian Presidential Adviser Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi

SH: Intelligence follow-ups have shown that the bombers were in contact with foreign agents outside of Iran and they were also paid for the actions that they took.

Also in their interrogations they made some confessions, which will be published in the near future. The proofs and documents will be published.

TE: How about Jundullah, they have captured 16 police in southeastern Iran. ABC news has pointed out that Jundullah is supported by the U.S. government. Do you have proof of this?

SH: This is not something we have said, some elements in the U.S. government themselves have said that Jundullah was receiving U.S. support. Also the media coverage and propaganda coverage right after any actions by Jundullah shows that there is a special relation between the Jundullah people and the Americans.

TE: Do you mean the Al Arabia station, which shows their videos?

SH: No, I mean some American media.

TE: There was a military exercise, Israeli planes flew to Greece. Israel has attacked a facility in Syria saying that it was a nuclear site. Have you heard of the exercise and what is your response?

SH: I think this maneuver by the Zionist regime was a statement to show that we are still alive and exist. It was a maneuver for some governments in that region.

TE: How do you mean?

SH: They want to say that we have not yet declined to that level that you would stop your support. This was a sign to some European governments.

TE: I don't get it.

SH: The Zionist regime is a extortionist government, EU governments, under pressure of Zionists are forced to pay extortion money to the Zionist regime. When the Israeli government is waning, which we believe it is, so many EU governments prefer not to support the Israeli government when it is weak and waning. Because then they would not feel anymore pressure. When it does a maneuver, it says that "I still exist and you still have to pay up."

TE: You have no fear that they will attack the Iranian nuclear sites?

SH: Israel is too small to be able to hurt Iran. As has been said before: Any government that tries to invade Iran will regret its actions.

TE: One general said cut the Hormuz straits to influence the transport of oil, if an attack would take place. Is this a possible retaliation?

SH: The forces of any government that would attack Iran will no longer have any security in our region or anywhere else. They will no longer be safe, where ever they are.

But the main policy of the IRI is the policy of coexistence, brotherhood, friendship and peace, especially with neighbors and regional countries.

TE: If there will be an attack, you will retaliate?

SH: We'll give them a decisive answer.

TE: There has been talk of opening a U.S. interest section. Has there been an official request from the U.S.?

SH: We don't believe this claim of the United States.

TE: Why not?

SH: It is nothing more than a propaganda pose.

TE: Did you receive an official request from them?

SH: I'm not informed about an official request.

TE: There is an Iranian interest section in DC. Would you be completely against the idea of the U.S. opening a full interest section here or in the future this could be a possibility?

SH: If such a proposal is received it will be studied.

TE: If you would consider it, is it not time to speak directly with the US?

SH: I said it before, when the U.S. government reforms its behavior and its stance becomes closer to those of the IRI, we will be considering all of these ideas.

TE: First reform and then we will see about these steps?

SH: And then we will see what happens.

TE: The proposal. [EU foreign policy chief Javier] Solana was here, what is your reaction?

SH: The contents of the proposed package they themselves presented those during their press conference.

There are many common points between the Iranian proposal and the Solana package.

Therefore there is a chance for negotiations, an opportunity.

TE: But the main sticking point is the requested suspension of enrichment activities?

SH: Why should we always pay attention to differences? There are so many similarities and common points, we should start from there.

TE: There has been talk that if Iran wouldn't install any more cascades, it would help the negotiations. Is that true?

SH: Officially, we haven't heard anything. But they know that the Iranian nation will not retreat one step from it's rights

TE: You speak of similarities, in both proposals, can you give some examples?

SH: Regional cooperation, energy cooperation, security cooperation, cooperation in building atomic reactors, business, etc.

TE: These are the points you would like to talk about?

SH: Yes these are the similarities which could be debated from the negotiations.

TE: Are there any negotiations at the moment?

SH: No.

TE: So the plan is under study by Iran and the world powers are waiting?

SH: We are also waiting for their study of the package we have proposed. They should also not carry out actions which would increase mistrust.

TE: Iraq, do you still support the government of Nouri al-Maliki?

SH: The Nouri al-Maliki government has emerged from the will of the Iraqi nation and we were the first to acknowledge them.

TE: Is Mr. al-Sadr in Iran? [the influential Iraqi Shiite cleric]

SH: I haven't heard anything.

TE: Well, he is so important that you must know when he is in the country.

SH: Not necessarily.

TE: What is Mr. Ahmadinejad trying to achieve in his reforms of the Iranian economy?

SH: One of the bigger participation of the people in the economic management of the country.

More justice in the country, is one of the objective, for example about subsidies. The level which is more in need should be getting more help from the government. An other objective of this great economic plan is the protection and preservation of the countries economic recourses. In the energy sector we are one of the high user countries in the world. Rates of energy we must conserve this energy and not waste, looking at the rates. We must keep our energy resources for the next generations. So, one of the objectives of the plan is not wasting and better use of energy.

Also, reforming of economic structures like banking, taxation, keeping the value of the national currency.

This is a plan which can move the country towards more self sufficiency and strengthen the country economically.

TE: Iran has said that it's willing to help America to retreat from Iraq. Does this offer still stand?

SH: That is correct and we still offer this. We can help the Iraqi government to create the chance for the American forces to leave Iraq.

TE: How?

SH: If the Iraqi government requests it, we can help the Iraqi government create security so that the American forces can leave.

TE: Sending Iranian troops?

SH: If such an idea is welcomed and accepted then we can sit down and discuss on how to do it.

This does not necessary mean that we will send troops to Iraq. In recent fighting in Basra, Sadr city and Baghdad you saw how the Iranian government helped the Iraqi government create security.

TE: By bringing the groups together and making them talk?

SH: With political actions.

TE: Because Iran still quite some influence in those groups?

SH: All of the Iraqi nation, the Iraqi government, the parliament are friends of Iran. Their president is a friend of the president of Iran, they are two friends who can help each other a lot.