Summary Iran does not recognize Israel and supports militant anti- Israeli groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
TEHRAN (AP) - Iran s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says his country will not enter nuclear talks with its arch-enemy Israel.
A Friday report by official IRNA news agency quotes Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying "We will not attend a meeting in which the occupying regime participates." Iran refers to Israel as an occupying regime because it controls territories claimed by Palestinians.
The report said Zarif s remarks were in response to possible Israeli participation in talks between Iran and world powers over Tehran s nuclear ambitions.
Last weekend Iran agreed to freeze parts of its nuclear program in return for the easing of Western sanctions.
Israel and the West suspect Iran s nuclear program has military dimension, a charge Iran denies.
Iran does not recognize Israel and supports militant anti- Israeli groups like Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah.
