Iran says United States failing in Middle East

Source: Reuters, 6-1-2008
"The aim of these repeated trips is to compensate for the failed policies of America in the region," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told a news conference.
He said Washington, which is leading efforts to isolate the Islamic Republic over its disputed nuclear ambitions, was "interfering in the relations of countries in the region" but that Iran had nevertheless boosted ties with its neighbours.
"America has not been successful in isolating Iran," he said. "We are witnessing the expansion of Iran's relations with different countries."
Bush will travel to "Israel" and the Palestinian West Bank as he tries to help the two sides reach a peace agreement. But he will focus on Iran when he visits five regional allies -- Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last month became the first president from non-Arab Shi'ite Iran to attend a summit of Gulf Arab states.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggested on Thursday that ties might one day be possible with Washington, although he said it would harm Iran to restore relations now.
Hosseini said: "In regards to the continuation of America's hostile policies towards Iran, we have no plans to normalise relations with America and this issue is not on the agenda."
Iranian leaders have often said they would not establish ties with the United States unless Washington changes its behaviour towards the Islamic Republic.