أرشيف موقع العهد الإخباري من 1999-2018
ارشيف من : 2005-2008
Iran: US `Will Regret` Detentions
Iraq.
Mottaki was referring to five Iranian diplomats kidnapped in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil by US troops in January, who still remain in US custody.
"We will make the Americans regret their ugly and illegal act,`` Mottaki said, adding "we warn American officials to free our diplomats as soon as possible".
Mottaki said the Foreign Ministry has "put on its agenda a series of widespread actions against these unlawful and illegal actions that are in contradiction with all international conventions".
However, Mottaki added that Iran is still willing to continue direct talks with the US on Iraq, which began first last month in Baghdad, breaking a 27-year diplomatic freeze between the two foes.
A second round of talks was expected later this month, but recent bitter US-Iran exchanges have thrown that new round into doubt.
US and Iranian officials held the highest profile meeting between the two countries in almost three decades on May 28 in Baghdad, an encounter that both sides described as positive.
Iraq`s ambassador to Baghdad, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, was quoted by state news agency IRNA as saying that the issue of the five Iranians would be discussed in any future talks. No date has been set.
"The policy of supporting the Iraqi people and government and the return of security to that country is Iran`s definite policy," Mottaki told reporters.
"If the Americans are determined to solve the problem which they themselves are part of, we will put on the agenda the request by the Iraqi government to continue these negotiations with a positive view."
Iran has said the five detained Iranians were diplomats and that the building the US troops occupied during the raid that led to the arrests was an Iranian liaison office.
Tehran also said the five were the guests of the Iraqi government and has demanded their release. Iraqi government officials have also called for their release, along with compensation for damages.
The five have not been charged with a crime but the US has so far not allowed Iranian representatives to visit them.
Mottaki said Iran will send a formal letter to the UN chief Ban Ki-moon within the next few days to protest inaction by the Security Council and delays in taking up the issue of the five Iranians` detention.