Tehran, Dec 23, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi in a press conference here Monday reiterated that US President George W. Bush' recent remarks on Iran-US ties were aimed at sowing discord between the Iranian government and nation.

American officials' maltreatment of Iranian immigrants residing in the US shows that the Bush administration is not sincere in its claims of defending and respecting the rights of Iranians, Asefi stressed.

He pointed to Tehran's objection to the Swiss Embassy over the US measures, adding that the Swiss Ambassador to Tehran Tim Goldimann who represents US interests in Iran, pledged to inform American authorities of the issue.

Responding to a question whether after attacking Iraq the US will target Iran, the spokesman noted that Iran's domestic situation, stability and might as well as international conditions will not allow Washington to take such a measure against Tehran.

On the current trip of President Mohammad Khatami to Pakistan, Asefi stressed that the visit will play a key role in strengthening Tehran-Islamabad bonds. He added that the two sides will conclude three agreements in commercial, scientific and agricultural arenas.

Elsewhere in his address, Asefi said that Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi's scheduled visit to Kabul has been canceled due to flight problems. Kharrazi and his Afghan counterpart Abdullah Abdullah held a telephone conversation Sunday morning in this regard.

Kharrazi was scheduled to arrive in Kabul Sunday to take part in a meeting to conclude the pact of friendship. It will be signed during a ceremony marking the coming to office of the interim government in that country after the fall of the hardline Taliban.

Iranian Ambassador to Kabul Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian is to attend the meeting aimed at concluding a pact of friendship between Afghanistan and its neighbors.

Asefi expressed hope the meeting will result in safeguarding security and stability in Afghanistan, adding that neighboring states will help the Kabul government achieve its goals.

Touching upon foreign reports on probable partitioning of Saudi Arabia, the Iranian spokesman said that the Islamic Republic stresses the need to respect the territorial integrity of all countries including Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

"Iran and Saudi Arabia, as two friends and neighboring states, will spare no effort to assist each other," he stressed.

Shahroudi condemns detention of Iranian migrants in United States

"In theory, the United States introduces itself as an advocate of human rights but in practice it ignores the very basic principles of human rights. The way the US administration has treated the Iranian migrants has led to strong reaction among the intellectual community of America which has been critical of such behavior," Hashemi Shahroudi said.

He expressed sympathy with the Iranian families whose members have been detained and called on the Foreign Ministry to use all diplomatic channels to seek the release of Iranian migrants living in the United States.

Foreign ministry issues statement denouncing new US move

Tehran, Dec 23, IRNA -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued here Monday, condemned the harsh US measures recently imposed by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) against Iranians residing in that country.

The US' inhuman measures have violated the peaceful coexistence and constructive relations of peoples of varying nations and cultures, the statement added.

The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran considers Washington's recent moves against the Iranian community living in that country as explicit violations of human rights, unacceptable, discriminatory and insulting to the Iranian nation, it further said, adding that Tehran believes that such acts are targeted against nationals of particular countries and against their Muslim population.

The statement stressed that Tehran will do all it can to defend the reputation and honor of all Iranian nationals wherever they may be.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a responsible member of the comity of nations, voices its great concern over such bullying and coercive measures of the US showing its arrogance and disregard of international law and relations, it said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said on Friday that the measures taken by Washington were not in any way justified by any international norm or standard.

He said the steps taken by the American government contradicts international conventions on civil rights and are deeply regretted by the foreign ministry.

US immigration lawyers have estimated that at least 500 US residents of Middle Eastern features, mostly Iranians, have been detained in California since Monday when male visa holders were asked to report to local immigration offices to be fingerprinted and photographed.

In a related move, Swiss Ambassador to Tehran Tim Goldimann, who represents US interests in Iran, was summoned to the foreign ministry here Saturday to receive Iran's protest against the new US moves against Iranians by US police.