Iran bids for U.N. Security Council seat

January 7, 2008 
UPI 
Source: http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/01/07/iran_bids_for_un_security_council_seat/1284/print_view/

TEHRAN, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A spokesman for the foreign minister in Iran said his country applied for a position as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini told reporters at his weekly news conference Sunday that Iran applied for a seat on the Security Council for the years 2009 and 2010, the Fars news agency reported Monday.

The spokesman also said Iran is not opposed to talks with the United States over security concerns in Iraq, adding Tehran was awaiting U.S. response to their views. The spokesman said, however, the talks were not a sign of the normalization of diplomatic relations with the United States.

The statements come as reports Monday stated gunships with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps provoked U.S. naval vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.


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