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Iran bans EU from nuclear talks Iran 'disqualifies' EU from talks
(about 1 hour later)
The EU is no longer qualified to take part in talks on Iran's nuclear programme, a top Iranian official says. The EU is no longer qualified to take part in talks on Iran's nuclear programme, Iran's military chief says.
Maj Gen Hassan Firouzabadi, Iran's top military officer, accused the EU of interfering in riots which followed the disputed Iranian elections last month. Maj Gen Hassan Firouzabadi, Iran's chief of staff, accused the EU of "interference" in riots which followed June's disputed presidential elections.
Until the EU apologised for this "huge mistake", he said, it had no right to take part in the negotiations. The EU has for the past few years been involved in talks to try to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
The EU has yet to comment, but earlier urged Iran to avoid conflict with the international community. EU states, meanwhile, are considering withdrawing their ambassadors from Iran in a growing diplomatic row.
Rigged Britain has proposed the step, after Iran detained nine of its embassy staff in Tehran last week. Eight have since been released.
The Iranian presidential elections, held on 12 June, returned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power for a second term in office. But the opposition disputed the result, saying the vote had been rigged. 'Nine offences'
At least 17 people were killed as supporters of the opposition candidates took to the streets in protest. In the wake of mass street protests against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's relection, Iran's Basij militia has called for the defeated opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi to be prosecuted.
Maj Gen Firouzabadi accused some EU members of supporting the riots, and demonstrating their hostility to the Iranian people. The semi-official Fars news agency said the militia - a volunteer force of Islamic government loyalists - had accused Mr Mousavi of nine offences, including propaganda against the state, and complicity in disrupting national security.
Previously, Iran had aimed its allegations at Britain in particular and at the weekend detained nine local employees at the British embassy. Most have since been released. In a letter to the chief prosecutor, the militia said Mr Mousavi had been involved in the street protests, in which about 17 protestors and a number of militia members were killed.
'Remarkable role'
The semi-official Iranian Fars news agency accused one of the employees of having "a remarkable role during the recent unrest in managing it behind the scenes".
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has cancelled a trip to LibyaMahmoud Ahmadinejad has cancelled a trip to Libya
Britain has dismissed all the allegations as baseless. The Iranian presidential elections, held on 12 June, returned President Ahmadinejad to power for a second term in office.
But the opposition disputed the result, saying the vote had been rigged.
Both Mr Mousavi, and another defeated opposition candidate Mehdi Karoubi, have issued statements on their websites describing any government led by President Ahmadinejad as "illegitimate".
In a lengthy statement, Mr Mousavi also called for the release of the "children of the revolution" - a reference to the hundreds of reformist figures detained during the unrest.
'Hostility'
In his statement, reported by Fars, Gen Firouzabadi accused some EU members of supporting the riots, and demonstrating their hostility to the Iranian people.
The EU has yet to comment, but earlier urged Iran to avoid conflict with the international community.
Previously, Iran had aimed its allegations at Britain in particular and at the weekend detained the local employees of its embassy. Five were released on Monday, and a further three on Wednesday.
Iran says it is enriching uranium for power plants, but some Western countries suspect it plans to build nuclear weapons.Iran says it is enriching uranium for power plants, but some Western countries suspect it plans to build nuclear weapons.
Three EU countries - Britain, France and Germany - have led negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme, along with the United States, Russia and China.Three EU countries - Britain, France and Germany - have led negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme, along with the United States, Russia and China.
'Non-negotiable'
At their last talks, they offered Iran a package of incentives if it would stop its nuclear activities.At their last talks, they offered Iran a package of incentives if it would stop its nuclear activities.
But Iran insists that its right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable.But Iran insists that its right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable.
In a separate development, officials in Tehran said the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had cancelled his trip to an African Union summit in Libya. In a separate development, officials in Tehran said President Ahmadinejad had cancelled his trip to an African Union summit in Libya.
Mr Ahmadinejad's office did not give any reason for the decision.Mr Ahmadinejad's office did not give any reason for the decision.
His visit would have been one of his first major public appearances abroad since his re-election.His visit would have been one of his first major public appearances abroad since his re-election.