(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-27 10:19

Sending signals

"For the time being we do not see any important changes in the policy of the United States," Mottaki said. "Some people here and there send signals but the administration sets its policy which we do not accept".

In a public discussion at the forum on Saturday Mottaki angrily accused the United States of fabricating video footage of an incident between US and Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month for political purposes.

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He also urged US President George W. Bush "to be brave and tell the truth for once" about Iran after a US intelligence report concluded that Tehran had stopped trying actively to weaponise nuclear material in 2003.

But in his remarks to journalists on Saturday he offered a qualified compliment to Washington over recent policy in Iraq.

"The Americans have announced they will reduce their troops in Iraq. I think that will be a good decision," he said.

"The British did the right thing when they transferred Basra security to Iraqi officials," Mottaki added, referring to Britain's withdrawal of forces from the centre of the southern Iraqi city late last year.

US-led forces invaded Iraq in 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein and the United States accuses Iran of arming militants to attack American troops. Tehran denies the accusation.

"Since last summer we have seen some improvement in Iraq. Of course this is relative," Mottaki said. "One can say that it is still fragile in Iraq."

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