Symbolising Israel as a signature mark of the United States in the Middle East, Iran's foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki has said that any offensive action by Tel Aviv would be seen as an attack by Washington.
Iran does not believe that Israelis or Americans will attack its nuclear facilities but any attack by Tel Aviv would be considered an attack by Washington, Mottaki said.
'In the Middle East, (no one) makes a distinction between the US and Israel,' the minister told Newsweek in an interview.
Asked why his country is calling for wiping out Israel from the map of the earth, Mottaki said Tehran does not recognise Israel.
Reiterating to continue its uranium enrichment programme, he said, 'What we are doing is completely legal,' emphasising that negotiations are the only way to arrive at mutually acceptable solution to the issue.
Mottaki, however, welcomed the Bush administration's decision to send its Under Secretary William Burns to attend recent talks between Tehran and European Union on nuclear issue saying as 'the first realistic step' by Washington.
'We welcomed the participation by Mr Burns in the Geneva talks. We feel that if this is the realistic approach taken by the US right now vis-a-vis the nuclear issue, they must continue with such efforts,' he added.
Previously, Mottaki said the US administration attached certain provisos to their presence in the talks.
Burns' 'presence in Geneva meant that those were no longer in play. An effort has started and if it is to succeed in resolving the nuclear issue, we have to take it to the next step,' he added.
Asked about Iran shutting down the Strait of Hormuz in the event of attack on its nuclear facilities, Mottaki said American and Israeli official express 'military comments' and take military positions. 'Naturally, they will get military response.'
The UN Security Council resolution imposing limited sanctions on his country to force it to abandon its uranium enrichment programme are 'unlawful and illegal', Mottaki said, responding to another question.
'Last year, we responded to all the questions that were given to us by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Later, it became quite clear that the questions were given to the agency by the Americans. After we were through with one set of questions, the Americans came back with new claims that they gave the agency to look into,' he said.
Criticising American charges that Iran is pressurising on Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki against signing the Status of Forces Agreement governing the presence of American troops, Mottaki said whenever the US fails in imposing its policies, it blames Tehran.
Asked whether Iran opposed the agreement, the foreign minister said it is for the people of Iraq to decide. 'At the end of the day, the points of view and wishes of the (local) people have to be respected.'
He said Iran wants stability for Iraq and Afghanistan, and wants the two countries to be handed over to their elected governments.
The United States, he said, needs to 'fundamentally change' its policies as it has failed to achieve its goals during the last six or seven years in both the countries.
'We are saying that the American administration needs to take a correct set of decisions and one of those decisions has to do with (setting) a timetable for pulling out the troops,' he added.
Asked whether Senator Barack Obama would be better for Iran since he has called for a withdrawal from Iraq, Mottaki said whosoever becomes President will have to bring about fundamental changes in US policy regarding its relations with different parts of the world, including the Middle East.
To a question whether US attack on Iraq has helped Iran to increase its influence, Mottaki said, 'the difference between us and some others is that they like to interpret everything through a lens of might and power. What we like to do is to look at issues through the perspective of justice and our principled ideas and positions. We feel that perceived power in today's world cannot be the only device utilised in playing a role and being influential.'
'The American military might has not become weakened. What is lacking on the side of the American administration has to do with their logic. They have failed to persuade the international public opinion to see matters through their perspective,' he added.