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Tehran, Feb 7, IRNA -- Information Minister Ali Younesi here Thursday described as "sheer speculation" Washington's claims that some of the terror suspect al-Qaeda members had been given refuge in
the Islamic Republic.
"So far, not a single member of the al-Qaeda network has been identified in Iran and America's claims in this regard are sheer lies," he told IRNA.
Younesi asked American officials to provide evidence for their claims, saying, "We have evidence that America has assisted terrorist Iranian (opposition) groups. The US had better present proof if they have any against us and if they are sincere in their claims."
He also rejected US accusation of Iran's interference in Afghanistan, saying that "they (the Americans) can ask Afghan (Hamid) Karzai what interferences we have made in his country."
"How come the Karzai government is unaware of our so-called sabotage. Furthermore, if this claim was to be true, we would suffer more than anyone else," Younesi added.
"We have felt the damage and bitterness of power vacuum in Afghanistan. We believe that security in Afghanistan is complementary to our security and in favor of our national interests," he added.
Iran has welcomed the Afghan interim government, beside pledging 560 million dollars in aid for the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country within five years.
Tehran also bitterly opposed the ultraorthodox Taliban regime in Afghanistan through assisting the United Front to topple the hardline group from power.
"It was America, which seeing Taliban as a threat to Iran and Russia, had a role in their gradual rise. That was while the al-Qaeda network was serving as the biggest financial and military supporter of Taliban at that time and America was well aware of that," Younesi said.
Iran has intensified its control of the country's borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said, adding the move has led to the arrest of many illegal entrants.
"Many of those, who are transited in a suspicious manner from Pakistan's Balochistan into the Islamic Republic of Iran, have been arrested. Beside this, several human trafficking networks have been dismantled and their forgery devices seized," Younesi said.
"According to our information, many others are preparing to enter Iran from Pakistan. We warn that the Pakistani government is obliged to prevent their entry into Iran," he added.
Younesi also persistently asked Iranians to report possible suspected foreign elements to police.
The Islamic Republic recently reinstated visa for nationals of the Persian Gulf littoral states, as part of its measures to check possible transit of terrorist suspects.
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