By Hamid Reza Emadi

TEHRAN, Sept. 5
--Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Sunday "very sensitive" talks are underway with the European Union on ways to close Iran's nuclear dossier, noting that "Iran understands the EU is under mounting pressures from the United States".
Asefi told reporters during his weekly press briefing that Tehran has entered into "serious and delicate" negotiations with the EU, adding that Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Hasan Rohani will arrive in the Netherlands today to discuss mutual cooperation with the rotating chair of the 25-state bloc, Dutch Foreign Minister Benjamin Bot.
"We have agreed to make some moves in response to EU's sensitivities regarding certain issues," he said, adding that talks with the European Union are currently at the expert level.
Asefi said Iran remains committed to suspension of its uranium enrichment program, stressing that Tehran is keen on winning the Europeans' confidence and assure them that there is no cause for concern.
He further noted that the Europeans must recognize the country's legitimate right to nuclear technology, given the report released by the UN nuclear watchdog last Wednesday verifying Iran's claims that contaminated components were bought second-hand from the international black market.
In its report, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it "continues to make steady progress in understanding (Iran's nuclear) program".
The spokesman said the IAEA report showed Iran's nuclear program is quite transparent.
Asefi, however, said Iran expected more to come from the report.
"We expected that the report would conclude the case, but they say that they need more time," he said, adding that the P2 issue could also have been resolved completely in this report.
"We are of the opinion that we are very close to having it (nuclear issue) fully resolved," he said.
On another topic, Asefi said Tehran views the proposal made by US Senator John Edwards and presidential hopeful John Kerry that approves Iran gaining access to nuclear power in return for a stringent regime of international inspections "as part of the ongoing presidential campaign".
"We cannot take a stance regarding such remarks prior to the US presidential vote," he said, adding that Tehran does not take such statements seriously at this juncture.
Asked how serious Tehran sees threats of a military strike by Israel, the official said Tel Aviv is sufficiently aware of the military might of Iran and that of its own, stressing that Israel's threat looks more like a "boring joke".
On latest developments regarding the fate of the Iranian diplomat abducted in Iraq by yet 'unknown' assailants, Asefi said tireless efforts are underway to help release the diplomat.
Speculation has begun to circulate over the role of the interim Iraqi government members in the abduction and imprisonment of Iranian nationals, including diplomats and journalists.
Asefi said, however, that Tehran holds the interim government responsible for the safety of its abducted diplomat.
"We have information that he is alive and well," he said.
On the high-profile judicial case regarding the death in custody last year of Zahra Kazemi, an Iranian photojournalist who worked for a Canadian publication, the spokesman said the "government had from the beginning felt very sorry about this sad incident".
"But the case is not yet closed," he said, adding that Tehran was surprised by remarks made by Canada's Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew, who had said Canada is not ruling out sanctions against Iran over the death of Ms. Kazemi.
Pettigrew made the comments in Brussels late August on his first visit to the European Union as the new foreign minister. He said he discussed the Kazemi case with his EU counterparts during two days of meetings.

TEHRAN, Sept. 5--Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, in reaction to a statement by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, here Saturday said Straw's claims are surprising, IRNA reported.
Kharrazi added while Iran and Europe are engaged in a round of sensitive negotiations, such statements are not constructive.
He further said Iran is fully observed its commitments and it is Europe that has not been able to fulfill its promises.
Jack Straw, upon arriving at Valkenburg (the Netherlands) to attend the EU's foreign ministers meeting, said he was surprised and sorry about the fact that the government of Iran did not implement all tasks and promises it had been committed to.

TEHRAN, Sept. 5--Political activists and analysts shared their views on the upcoming presidential election and the prospect of former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi's candidacy.
Najafqoli Habibi, a member of the Central Council of the Islamic Association of Universities, said the charismatic former premier's candidacy will certainly have an impact on the voter turnout.
"We must pay attention to the fact that the higher the voter turnout in general elections, the more credibility the Islamic establishment will gain on the international scene," he said, adding that the Islamic Republic, as a democratic ruling system, needs to be supported by a high voter turnout in the presidential election.
Habibi, who is also dean of Allameh Tabatabaei University, however, said that the president does not have sufficient authority in the Islamic Republic, whereas the chief executive has been held responsible by the people for the prevailing problems in recent years.
"This means that there could be capable candidates who may decide not to run because they know they will not be able to fulfill their obligations due to limited authority," he said, stressing that a review of the issue of presidential powers would help boost voter turnout.
But Seyyed Ahmad Khatami, a member of Society for Qom Seminary Instructors, is of the opinion that the most qualified person for the post of president of the Islamic Republic of Iran is one who would attach greater importance to religion and religious values.
The mid-ranking cleric also told ISNA that meritocracy must be given top priority in all senior government posts.
"After the (1979) Islamic Revolution, (Abolhassan) Bani Sadr betrayed the revolution and the people removed him from office, while other officials served the nation and have had favorable achievements," he said.
He stressed that the constitutional watchdog Guardians Council is duty-bound to vet the would-be presidential candidates' qualification before leaving the task of voting to the people.
Mehdi Rahmanian, managing director of the leading pro-reform Persian daily Sharq, told ISNA that if the people are given the chance to choose among candidates with different political inclinations, they will certainly demonstrate a bigger showing in the upcoming presidential vote.
Masoud Dehnamaki, a conservative political activist and newspaper editor, stressed that trial and error does not make sense 25 years after the Islamic Revolution. He noted that the people will be encouraged to go to the polls if they are allowed to vote for the candidate closer to their ideals.

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 5--Iraqi and US forces arrested a man believed to be the most-wanted Saddam Hussein aide still on the run in a bloody raid in which 70 of his supporters were killed and 80 captured, the Iraqi government said on Sunday.
But the US military cast doubt on the report, saying Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri--who was sixth on the US list of the 55 most-wanted members of Saddam's regime and had a $10 million price on his head--was not in its custody, Reuters reported.
"Multinational Force Iraq confirms that we do not have Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri in custody," a military statement said.
The US military said it had no information on whether Ibrahim was in Iraqi custody.
The Iraqi Defense ministry had said Ibrahim was captured in Tikrit, Saddam's hometown and powerbase north of Baghdad.
Iraqi Minister of State Wael Abdul Al-Latif told Reuters it was "75 to 90 percent certain" the captured man was Ibrahim. He said 70 of the man's supporters were killed and 80 captured when they tried to prevent him from being seized.
Latif said Arabs from outside Iraq were among the people protecting the captured man, who was suffering from leukaemia.
"He's in a very deteriorated state of health," he said.
The US military has said Ibrahim was directly involved in organizing and funding attacks on US forces since the downfall of Saddam. In a deck of cards issued to US troops to help them identify fugitives, Ibrahim was the King of Clubs.
The news spread fast in Baghdad, and in some Shiite districts residents fired AK-47s in the air in celebration.
"He is the symbol of the former regime," said retired civil servant Abbas Al-Kabbi, 50. "It is the end of a bloody criminal regime."
Ibrahim was Saddam's number two in the Revolutionary Command Council and held a senior post on a government committee in charge of northern Iraq when chemical weapons were used against the town of Halabja in 1988, killing thousands of Kurds.
The red-haired Ibrahim was born in 1942 near Tikrit, 160 km (100 miles) north of Baghdad, the son of an ice seller.
Ibrahim was one of Saddam's top aides and most trusted confidants. His daughter was briefly married to Saddam's elder son Uday, bonding him within the ruling elite.
Meanwhile, Iraqi insurgents have kidnapped four Jordanian drivers for cooperating with US forces, Al Jazeera television said on Sunday.
"A group called the 'Falluja Mujahideen' said they are holding four Jordanian drivers who were transporting materials to American forces," the Arabic broadcaster said, showing a videotape it had received from the group.

IRUT, Lebanon,
Sept. 5--Hezbollah Secretary-General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah called for referendum in Lebanon's sensitive and vital affairs.
In statements issued here Saturday, Nasrallah referred to the presence of Syrian military forces in Lebanon and said the presence of Syrian forces in Lebanon is necessary, IRNA reported.
He, however, noted that on issues lacking consensus in Lebanon, a referendum can be held and the opinion of the majority should be accepted.
Referring to UN Security Council Resolution 1559 on the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon and holding a free election without amending the country's constitution, Nasrallah said this resolution which has been approved under the pressure of the US has targeted Lebanon more than Syria.
Nasrallah added the issue is not on extending Lebanon's presidential tenure, but is a pretext to implement the US and Zionist regime's plans in the Middle East.
The resolution was passed on Friday by 9 to 6 votes in the UN Security Council, but the Lebanese government rejected it.