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Iran has called on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to look into the crimes committed by Western powers as the main supporters of dictators in the Middle East.
The Human Rights Council of Iran's Judiciary has, in a statement, asked the UNHRC and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to review the crimes by Western powers as the key allies of ousted dictators in the region.
“The Iranian [Judiciary's] Human Rights Council welcomes the massive popular uprisings in Islamic countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and regards them as a clear sign of national awakening and open opposition to totalitarian, illegitimate and puppet governments, and categorically condemns the brutal killing of people by the elements of these governments,” read the statement.
The statement underlined that Western countries, especially the US and Britain, have, for decades, been offering political and military assistance to the region's dictators, and are undoubtedly accessories to their crimes.
“It is necessary that the UNHRC closely look into the crimes committed by these rulers who have the blood of their people on their hands, and also review the key role of Western powers which have denied no help to these rulers,” read the statement.
The statement underscored that Western officials should be held accountable for all the crimes committed over the past decades with their money and weapons.
Located at the western tip of Jebel Nefusa, the mountain range that runs parallel to the coast west of Tripoli, Nalut joined the anti-Gaddafi forces early on. Locals and refugees told Press TV that nearby towns such as Jadu, Zintan and Rogbane are also no longer under Gaddafi regime's control.
Repeating the pattern of other population centers, the revolutionary forces have held on to the towns, but have conceded much of the road network linking the cities.
The Libyan military, meanwhile, has reclaimed the Tunisian border post and have patrols around the city's perimeter.
While no counterattack has yet materialized, border crossers told Press TV that they have been erecting fortifications. Residents on the Tunisian side of the border are also concerned as they have significant contacts with Nalut, both social and commercial.
While not as busy as the main western border town of Ras Jedir, 250 kilometers north, more than 3,000 refugees from nearly 20 different nations have passed from Libya into the once sleepy town of Dehiba.
The Libyan army has imposed a blockade on the border, but that hasn't stopped many from skirting the checkpoint and delivering humanitarian aid.
Despite their proximity to Ghadaffi's forces around Tripoli, some towns in northwestern Libya have declared their independence. Their situation is precarious, but they are holding their ground
A senior Iranian lawmaker has warned the United States against its possible military intervention in Libya, saying Washington seeks a strategic change in the North African country.
“Libya currently is in need of humanitarian aid and not military interventions by certain powers, including the United States, which are based on their own interests,” a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said in a letter to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
“We believe that the objective of such ideas is not based on defending the Libyan people but is a bid to change the strategic situation in this North African country,” he added, ISNA reported.
He pointed to the ongoing bloody events in Libya and expressed regret that the United Nations and its affiliated bodies failed to play their role within the framework of the UN Charter.
The Iranian lawmaker said the current developments in Libya and the savage killings of the country's people have created a fresh wave of concern in the world, particularly in the Islamic Republic.
He warned that certain powers are making efforts to prepare ground for military intervention in Libya and called on the chief of the United Nations to require responsible bodies to defend the rights of the Libyan people and condemn and bring the country's dictator Muammar Gaddafi and his allies to trial.
Falahatpisheh also asked Ban to pave the way for the Libyan people to determine their own fate without the interference of other countries.
The remarks came after media reports suggested that the United States and its allies may be preparing the ground for a military intervention in Libya.
The US Senate has unanimously passed a resolution calling for a no-fly zone over Libya.
The US Senate Armed Services Committee said all options, including the military option, should be on the table.
Eight British soldiers have been captured in eastern Libya as they escorted a senior diplomat through territory under the control of revolutionary forces.
According to a report published by The Sunday Times, the unexpected presence of a British special forces unit along with the diplomat "angered Libyan opposition figures, who ordered the soldiers to be locked up on a military base."
The Britons have reportedly been taken to Benghazi in eastern Libya. The diplomat they were protecting had wanted to contact the anti-government forces.
The British newspaper added that anti-government forces “fear Muammar Gaddafi could use any evidence of Western military interference to rally patriotic support for his regime."
On Saturday, Gaddafi said he wanted the United Nations or the African Union to investigate the anti-government protests in the country.
On the same day, pro-Gaddafi forces backed by tanks launched an assault on Zawiyah, 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of the capital Tripoli, firing heavy mortar rounds at houses and attacking a hospital.
The clashes began hours after revolutionary forces repelled an effort by government forces to retake the city.
Reports by human rights groups say over 6,000 people have been killed so far in the government's harsh crackdown on anti-government protesters.
The Libyan revolution came in the wake of the monumental events in Tunisia and Egypt, where dictators who led undemocratic and repressive regimes were driven out of power.
However, Gaddafi does not want to see the writing on the wall, and the bloody conflict in Libya drags on.
Waves of demonstrations have rocked several other Middle Eastern and North African countries in recent weeks.
Gunshots have rung out in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, where anti-government protesters staged rallies against the crumbling regime of Libya's ruler Muammar Gaddafi.
Tripoli residents demanding Gaddafi's downfall held rallies after the Friday prayers in the capital, where they were met with pro-Gaddafi forces that used teargas to disperse the crowd.
"They fired teargas. I heard shooting. People are scattering," a Reuters reporter at the scene of the protests in the east of the Libyan capital said.
Reports indicate that Gaddafi's secret police waited outside mosques as demonstrators began to call for an end to the ruler's 42 years of autocracy.
Pro-regime forces unleashed the gas and baton rounds to suppress the anti-government protests.
Meanwhile, the regime's troops kept a heavy military presence on main roads around the capital, where pro-Gaddafi forces have been searching cars at numerous checkpoints.
In the Libyan city of Benghazi, which is under the protesters' control, a massive rally was held after the day's prayers.
Clashes also erupted in the town of Zawiyah and the oil port of Ras Lanuf, with reports of heavy casualties after the regime unleashed fire on anti-government protesters in an area near the oil port of Ras Lanuf.
Libya's revolutionary forces have vowed to continue with their rallies until achieving victory.
The Libyan situation continues to dominate the world oil markets. The uprising in the oil-rich North African nation has increased crude prices worldwide.
New York's light sweet crude for April delivery, known as West Texas Intermediate, rose 72 cents to reach above 102 dollars a barrel.
Libya produces over one and a half million barrels of oil a day. About 85 percent of Libya's oil goes to Europe.
Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi's troops have opened heavy fire on anti-regime protesters in an area near the oil port of Ras Lanuf.
Heavy shelling has been heard from the city some 600 kilometers east of the capital, Tripoli. At least four people were killed during heavy clashes between Gaddafi loyalists and defectors, a Press TV correspondent reported.
Reports say Gaddafi's military forces have bombed the eastern oil-rich town of Brega for the third consecutive day.
Similar air strikes have also been reported in the northeastern town of Ajdabiya 160 kilometers south of Benghazi.
This comes as reports say Gaddafi's regime has stepped up the recruitment of mercenaries from other African countries. Revolutionary forces say they have already captured scores of Gaddafi mercenaries.
The anti-regime forces say they are ready to hold talks if the Libyan ruler steps down or goes into exile.
Reports say several-thousand Libyans have been killed and many others have been injured after the protests began in the North African nation on February 17.
Anti-government protests have been held across Libya as tensions remain high in the North African nation.
In the Libyan city of Benghazi, demonstrators marched after the Friday Prayers, demanding the ouster of Gaddafi.
A Press TV correspondent says revolutionary forces have promised to continue with their rallies until achieving victory.
In Tripoli, anti-Gaddafi protesters took to the streets. Police used teargas to disperse demonstrators after the Friday Prayers. Gunshots were also heard in the city.
Opposition forces claim they have taken control of an airport in the oil port of Ras Lanuf, after heavy fighting with Gaddafi forces.
Reports say scores of people have been killed in the fighting.
Libya's state television, however, claims that Gaddafi forces have seized back the city of Zawiyah, near Tripoli.
The city was taken by protesters two weeks ago.
At least 50 people have been killed and hundreds more wounded in the fresh fighting.
The Libyan situation continues to dominate the world oil markets. The uprising in the oil-rich North African nation has increased crude prices worldwide.
New York's light sweet crude for April delivery, known as West Texas Intermediate, rose 72 cents to reach above 102 dollars a barrel.
Libya produces over one and a half million barrels of oil a day. About 85 percent of Libya's oil goes to Europe.
Hundreds of mourners in Libya have buried victims of clashes between pro- and anti-government forces in the country's east, where the opposition beat back an offensive by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader.
The funerals came as rebel forces regrouped in preparation for another potential onslaught on Friday, a day after air strikes struck the coastal town of Brega in an attempt by pro-Gaddafi forces to retake control.
Saif Gaddafi, a son of the Libyan leader, told a British broadcaster that Thursday's air strikes were meant to scare opposition protesters away, not kill them.
However, the air strikes failed to dislodge opposition fighters from the oil-rich area, which lies nearly 800km east of the capital, Tripoli.
Rebel reinforcements from the east of the country began arriving in the nearby town of Ajdabiya and arming themselves, according to information received by Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, dozens of people marched in a funeral procession in Ajdabiya on Thursday, with five coffins held aloft en route to the cemetery there.
"For the people of Ajdabiya, these men are marytrs to their revolution. And the more of their comrades who are killed, the more they are determined to defeat Muammar Gaddafi," reported Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera's correspondent in the city.
Mourners shouted slogans against Gaddafi, including: "The blood of marytrs will not be spilled in vain"; "Gaddafi get out, Libyans don't want you!"; and "Gaddafi you're crazy!".
Human Rights Watch confirmed at least 14 deaths from the fighting in Brega as of Thursday morning, including a 13-year-old shepherd named Hassan Umran.
In Benghazi, Libya's second city and a stronghold of the opposition, which has been demanding that Gaddafi step down, about 1,000 people turned out to bury six people, the AFP news agency reported.
A crowd of anti-government activists packed into vehicles and drove to the cemetery, where they fired into the air and said prayers honouring those who had been killed.
Struggle intensifies
Earlier, our correspondent reported that the rebels in the country's east, though poorly equipped and not well trained, set up advanced positions 50km west of Brega.
The reported strikes on the town came in the wake of a counter-offensive launched by Gaddafi, aimed at taking back lost territory in the country's east. About 300 men loyal to the Libyan leader attacked Brega, some 500km east of the capital, Tripoli, on Wednesday.
A short while later, an air force bomber encircled the town, firing a missile without causing any casualties. The warplane struck a beach near where the two sides were fighting at a university campus.
Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley, who was about 70 metres from the missile when it hit, said the opposition managed to repel the strike - maintaining control of the town they seized a week ago.
Located between Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte - still under government control - and the opposition-held eastern port of Benghazi, Brega also sits near ethnic fault lines between tribes loyal to Gaddafi and eastern groups opposed to him.
Government forces were also reported to be battling to regain control of rebel-held towns close to Tripoli, trying to create a buffer zone around what is still Gaddafi's seat of power.
Meanwhile government officials from the Netherlands are continuing with efforts to win the release of three Dutch marines detained in Libya.
They were captured on Sunday by forces loyal to Gaddafi after they landed in the coastal city of Sirte. They were trying to rescue two Europeans who have since been handed over to the Dutch embassy in Tripoli
It's been two weeks since the start of the Libyan revolution, where the people have been fighting for their freedom against the dicatator Muammar Gaddafi. The East of Libya has been liberated for some time now and in Benghazi, the situation here has largely been peaceful
However Gaddafi is still in power, and with the ongoing struggle in many cities in the western part of Libya, the violence is set to continue.
HEAR: In Benghazi, the people want an immediate end to Gaddafi's rule, and they have taken it upon themselves to bring that about, even if it means an all out war.
Many volunteers have been putting their name forward to join the army. They come from different professions and backgrounds, ready to give their life for the liberation of their country.
The volunteers are hoping to arm themselves and some are hoping to head towards the capital Tripoli, Gaddafi's stronghold. This is where they plan to attack his military compound and bring down the regime. This is obvioulsy a huge task, but with Gaddafi still threatening to bomb and kill protesters, they don't have much choice.
The overwhelming majority of the people in Benghazi have expressed the need for more support, aid and arms from other countries, but it's clear that they do not want a foreign invasion, and if the Americans and other forces do interfere, the Libyans will hope to see the back of them as soon as possible.
The US has been pushing for a measure that would keep its agents from being prosecuted for war crimes committed during the bloody massacre of pro-democracy protesters in Libya.
The hypocritical move came on Sunday as the US called for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the killing of Libyan demonstrators, while insisting on excluding a large number of foreign mercenaries.
The US insisted that the Security Council assures all mercenaries -- from countries that are not a member of the ICC -- hired by Gaddafi would not be punished for their actions in Libya.
This means that mercenaries from countries such as Algeria, Ethiopia and Tunisia would escape prosecution even if they are captured, because their nations are not members of the court.
The move was seen as an attempt to prevent the prosecution of US soldiers and officials over war crimes, The Telegraph reported.
In this particular case, however, there has been no indication that any US citizens have been involved in the Libyan massacre.
The US apparently has threatened to kill the entire resolution if the immunity clause is not inserted.
So far around two thousand people have been reportedly killed in Libya due to the Gaddafi regime's excessive use of force.
Reports say forces and foreign mercenaries loyal to Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi have surrendered parts of the capital, Tripoli, to pro-democracy protesters.
Residents in some neighborhoods of the capital are barricading their streets and proclaiming open defiance. Demonstrators have also taken control of the city of Zawiyah, some 50-kilometers west of Tripoli.
This comes as revolutionary forces are advancing towards Tripoli. Forces loyal to Gaddafi continue the violent suppression of anti-government demonstrations as protesters are fighting their way into the capital.
More anti-government demonstrations continue across Libya as more cities fall under protesters' control.
They have already seized control of several cities including Libya's second largest city, Benghazi.
Meanwhile, the opposition is planning to form an interim government in cities liberated from Gaddafi's rule, to pave the way for free and fair elections.
The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on the Libyan regime and has refered Gaddafi to the International Criminal Court.
The United Nations' refugee agency says nearly 100,000 people have fled Libya in the past week amid simmering tension in the North African country.
According to the UNHCR, most of the evacuees were foreign nationals.
The agency described the situation as a humanitarian crisis, urging the Tunisian and Egyptian governments to support the evacuees.
Earlier, border security officials at Ra's Jedir crossing said over 38,000 people have crossed Libya into Tunisia since February 20.
The evacuation of foreign nationals has picked up speed since Colonel Gaddafi announced plans to arm his supporters to fight his opponents.
Protesters and demonstrators in Libya have one call and that is an end to the long-time rule Muammar Gaddafi.
For more on the ongoing events in Libya, Press TV has interviewed former US ambassador to Iraq, Edward Peck, from Washington.
Press TV: How do you assess the US response up into this point of events that have been unfolded in Libya?
Peck: Well, I don't think there's been actually much of a response that is measurable and therefore, is difficult to comment on, because we have made so much noises and so many words but we haven't really done anything of a concrete nature which makes it difficult to assess what is actually accomplished.
Press TV: What can you tell us about the latest comment by US President Barack Obama who had stated that “Gaddafi must basically leave now?”
Peck: Well, it isn't up to Mr. Obama to decide whether or not Mr. Gaddafi is going to leave. He could make statement like that, but it is basically meaningless. It is just words. In a democracy such as ours, it is partially intended to get the people to do something, but you know it isn't really of a great significance as far as I can tell.
Press TV: Taking into account the behind the scenes calculations, does the US want the fall of another Arab dictatorship with prospects of a democracy for that country in the future?
Peck: Well, that is a tough one. Because would be a democracy, may be yes may be no. It is hard to say in advance. It could be something that resembles the democracy. It could result in the folks that we are considering to be the most important, not succeeding in getting rid of Gaddafi. In which case you could have an extensive of what that involves all sorts of developments which would not be in my mind, in the best interest of the United States. It could go that way just as easily as the way we would like it to. It is hard to predict future.
Press TV: Do you think that the US would have preferred to have Gaddafi stay in power?
Peck: Well, the way it is now, probably not because of what has happened the developments that have taken place. It may have been that when he was there, [they] were happy to have him there because the US has always felt that stability is better than chaos or disorganization, or that kind of development.
Whether it is or it isn't a judgment call and I am not in a position to make that for my government but I think we would have preferred a quiet transition. One in which the people slowly accommodated to doing things, a different way and the government would whistle on that since that seems to be too late now. What the American people would like to see is some sort of development which leads to stable, quiet, peaceful change over to something [that is] perhaps a little bit democratic.
Press TV: Well the Obama administration is considering a range of options from pressuring the Libyan regime. The question that is circulating in everybody's mind is military intervention in Libya. Is it possible or is it on the table basically?
Peck: Oh, that is a really tough one, because what the Americans actually be prepared to consider another invasion of another country. I hate to think so. I recognize that the way the thing are these days, it could happen, but another invasion on an Arab country. Don't do that. That would cause catastrophe I think.
Press TV: There are so many players, such as Britain, France, Italy. What could their objectives be?
Peck: That is something you have to ask them but I guess that the thing that concerns me is that the United states of America has enough going on now in the world of a military nature, in places where some people would suggest we really don't have any right to be, but I think it would be a major mistake to get involved in yet another war anywhere, involving with anyone. So I hope that they have enough understanding to recognize that is definitely not something that should not even think of as a course of action.
Press TV: Looking at the revolutions and uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, now in Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, let's say a hypothetical situation. You were working in the US State Department and the Secretary of State asks you what is going on in the Arab world, how would you respond to that?
Peck: well, I think I would feel constraint and would tell him or her that whatever is happening in the Middle East right now may not turn out to be in the best interest of this country. In the sense that there are a lot of people who do not like what is and has been done to the Palestinians. This was one of the things that people of Egypt had against their leaders.
The fact was that he was facilitating what Israel was doing to the Palestinians, which the overwhelming majority of Arabs, Muslims do not support; but he was doing it for whatever reasons. It is not something that I can describe or talk about and that is one of the things that they had against him. So if indeed Mr. Mubarak has gone and that remains to be seen, because it isn't over until it is over. It is highly unlikely in my mind that the government of Egypt is to replace Mr. Mubarak. It is going to be a government which will be continuing that support which they did not think was good before.
The UN Security Council has unanimously imposed travel bans and asset freezes on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, members of his family and inner circle.
Saturday's resolution adopted by the 15-nation council also called for the immediate referral of the deadly crackdown against anti-government demonstrators in Libya to the International Criminal Court in The Hague for investigation and possible prosecution of anyone responsible for killing civilians.
The council demanded an "immediate end to the violence and for steps to address the legitimate demands of the population" in Libya.
It called for Libyan authorities to act "with restraint, respect human rights and international humanitarian law," and facilitate immediate access for international human rights monitors.
The council called for an immediate lifting of restrictions "on all forms of media" and for the safety of foreign nationals to be assured and their departure facilitated.
Under the arms embargo, UN members will take immediate and necessary measures to "prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to Libya ... of arms and related material of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment."
Libya would be prohibited from importing all arms and related material and all UN members should prevent their nationals from exporting them.
The travel ban and assets will target the 68-year-old Libyan leader, his adult children, other family members and top defence and intelligence officials accused of playing a role in the bloodshed.
'Moral support'
Sixteen names are on the sanctions list.
The council said its actions were aimed at "deploring the gross and systematic violation of human rights, including the repression of peaceful demonstrators."
And members expressed concern about civilian deaths, "rejecting unequivocally the incitement to hostility and violence against the civilian population made from the highest level of the Libyan government."
The day was consumed mainly with haggling behind closed doors over language that would refer Libya's violent crackdown on protesters to the International Criminal Court, or ICC, at the Hague.
All 15 nations on the council ultimately approved referring the case to the permanent war crimes tribunal.
Council members did not consider imposing a no-fly zone over Libya, and no UN-sanctioned military action was planned.
The Libyan deputy UN envoy described the adoption of sanctions as "moral support" to those resisting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Ibrahim Dabbashi, one of the first Libyan diplomats to denounce Gaddafi and defect, said the council's move "will help put an end to this fascist regime which is still in existence in Tripoli."
Libya's former justice minister has formed an interim government as several cities are currently under the control of pro-democracy demonstrators.
Mustafa Mohamed Abdel-Jalil formed the government in the eastern city of Benghazi on Saturday, Reuters cited Libya's Quryna newspaper as reporting.
"Muammar Gaddafi alone bore responsibility for the crimes that have occurred in Libya," the paper quoted the former Libyan justice minister as saying.
Libya is bracing for more violence as thousands of pro-democracy protesters, seeking the ouster of the Gaddafi regime, are moving toward the capital, Tripoli.
But foreign mercenaries and troops still loyal to Gaddafi are making every effort to crush the revolution.
The 68-year-old Gaddafi and four of his sons, Saif al-Islam, al-Saadi, al-Mutassim, and Khamis, are reportedly in the Bab al-Azizia military barracks, located west of Tripoli, and fighting against the protesters.
His fifth son, Saif-al-Arab Gaddafi, has joined the revolutionaries, and the Libyan dictator's cousin, Ahmed Qadhaf al-Dam, who was one of the members of Gaddafi's inner circle, has defected to Egypt.
According to the latest reports, demonstrators have already passed through the suburbs of the city.
Tripoli is a strategically important city and home to two million of Libya's more than six million people.
Libyan security forces have reportedly killed over 1,000 people during the recent demonstrations against Gaddafi's four decades of repressive rule.
Libya is bracing for further violence as thousands of opposition protesters seeking the ouster of the Gaddafi regime move toward the capital, Tripoli.
Thousands of protesters are on their way to the capital from eastern and western cities.
Some incoming reports indicate that pro-democracy protesters have already passed through the suburbs of the city.
Meanwhile, sporadic clashes continue between protesters and government forces in the capital.
This comes as more and more soldiers are now joining the popular revolution.
The developments also come as the government is losing its grip on more cities in the country's east and west.
Tripoli is home to two million of Libya's more than six million population and strategically important city.
Experts say Tripoli's fall would be a final blow to the embattled regime.
Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi's government are said to be stationed outside Tripoli.
However, Gaddafi remains defiant after nearly two weeks of nationwide protests against his regime. He has even promised to open arms depots to his supporters.
The forces are exhausted for staying on standby for several days.
The aid organization Doctors Without Borders says it is concerned about the condition of the injured in the city of Benghazi.
It says the city is in short supply of medical equipment despite the heavy number of casualties.
The organization says a six-person group of its staff has arrived in the city. It says it cannot reach Tripoli by road despite the dire need for medical help there.
Over 1,000 people have already lost their lives and more fatalities are feared as Gaddafi's regime is trying to crush the popular uprising.
The humanitarian crisis is deepening in Libya as more and more people leave the country in search of safety.
Turkey says it will continue to push for an international investigation into Israel's lethal attack on a Gaza-bound aid convoy which killed nine civilians.
Israeli navy forces attacked the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on May 31, killing nine Turk activists, including a Turkish-American teenager, who were accompanying the civilian aid convoy on its blockade-busting mission.
The Israeli commandos had committed "a crime" and said Turkey wants an international probe, Associated Press quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as saying on Tuesday.
The remark came after Israel's internal military inquiry found "operational mistakes" in the bloody incident and charged the army with poor preparation for the takeover of the fleet.
The so-called Eiland committee concluded that flawed intelligence-gathering and planning led to the botched operation.
It also acknowledged "mistakes on the high military levels," which it, however, downplayed by saying they "were not the result of negligence."
Davutoglu told reporters that he welcomed the fact that the report acknowledged "mistakes" were made, but emphasized Ankara's call for an impartial international inquiry into the lethal onslaught.
A senior Iranian lawmaker says the new round of anti-Iran UN Security Council sanctions is an open declaration of war against Iran by the six major powers.
Speaking to Fars news agency on Sunday, member of the Iranian Parliament's Foreign Policy and National Security Commission Mohammad Karami-Rad said the administration of US President Barack Obama was never truly after a nuclear fuel exchange with Iran.
Referring to Tehran's willingness for a nuclear fuel swap, the Iranian lawmaker said, "The US sees the issue of the exchange of uranium as a political one while it is a routine, commercial matter."
"President Obama did not expect Iran to accept to exchange its 3.5 percent enriched uranium with a 20 percent enriched batch outside Iranian soil," Karami-Rad said.
He further pointed out that a Western call on Turkey and Brazil for mediation in Iran's nuclear issue was only a political gesture, adding that Washington's estimation of a low chance of success for the nuclear fuel swap prompted the call.
Karami-Rad also slammed the double standard policies of the West in dealing with Iran, saying, "the adoption of the 1929 UN resolution after the issuance of Tehran's [nuclear] statement was an open declaration of war by the P5+1 against Iran and all the free nations of the world."
According to the Iranian national security official, the West made its utmost efforts to prevent Iran from achieving a complete nuclear fuel cycle and went on to warn against the adverse effects of confrontation with the Islamic Republic.
"If the US and Western countries go beyond sanctions and endanger the interests of the Islamic Republic, they should rest assured that they will pay a heavy price," he noted.
The lawmaker went on to say that countries which have trade and economic relations with Iran "will never sacrifice their interests for the US dual policies."
Karami-Rad reiterated that Iran would remain committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) while expressing willingness for the continuation of talks in line with the International Atomic Energy Agency regulations.
The remarks come as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently expressed Tehran's readiness to resume dialogue with Western powers opposing Iran's civilian nuclear program.
As a signatory to the NPT, Tehran argues that it has the right to peaceful nuclear technology, rejecting US and Israeli-led accusations that it is pursuing a military objective in its nuclear program.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says his country reserves the right to apply unilateral sanctions on Israel over the Gaza-bound aid Flotilla killings.
"There is an action, a crime here. Turkey's demand is rather lucid. Since there is a death, the killing side is acknowledged and an international commission should be formed and make its decision with respect to this fact in the frame of objective provisions of law. If Israel does not want an international commission, then it has to acknowledge this crime, apologize, and pay compensation," Davutoglu said in an interview published in the Newsweek magazine on July 9.
The top Turkish diplomat made the comments after the recent Israeli attack on the aid fleet seeking to break the siege of Gaza Strip.
The deadly attack in the international waters of the Mediterranean Sea claimed the lives of nine Turkish citizens.
"If the international community and the international law do not ask about the causes of these deaths, we, as the government of the Republic of Turkey, have the right to ask. Turkey-Israel relations will never be on a normal footing until we have an answer. And Turkey has the right to one-sidedly apply its own sanctions," the Turkish top diplomat added.
"If the right steps are not taken (by Israel), the relations would go in the direction of a break-off process. However, I cannot share with you what I have told them behind closed doors. They know what kind of sanctions we would impose," Davutoglu said.
Asked about Ankara's "zero-tension policy" with Turkey's neighbor countries and the recent escalation of tensions with Israel, Davutoglu said: "Zero problems with neighbors is a value. But another equally important value is to establish peace. If any actor blocks peace processes, keeps civilians under blockade, massacres civil people on international waters, the peace value could not be disregarded for the sake of zero problems with neighbors. These policies of Israel are a menace to regional peace. Excusing these policies that go against peace just to develop zero-problem relations is out of the question."
South Africa's Closing Argument Against Israel for Genocide at the ICJ
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