Iran summons British envoy over Blair remarks

TEHRAN, Dec 26 (Reuters) Iran summoned the British ambassador today to complain about comments made by Prime Minister Tony Blair during a recent West Asia tour.

Senior foreign ministry official Ebrahim Rahimpour ''strongly criticised Blair's baseless accusations and comments on Iran'', the student news agency ISNA said.

During his tour this month, Blair called on West Asian states to help rein in the ''forces of extremism'' in Iran, which he called a threat to the region's stability. He also accused Iran of undermining the Lebanese government.

''By accusing Iran, it seems that Mr. Blair is trying to divert attentions from his failure in ... Afghanistan, Iraq and the region,'' Rahimpour was quoted as saying to British Ambassador Geoffrey Adams. ''But he will not reach his aims.'' Some Iraqi politicians, mainly Sunni Muslims, accuse Tehran of fuelling sectarian violence by supporting Shi'ite militias. Iran denies the claim.

A British embassy spokeswoman confirmed the summons.

''General discussions were mentioned during the meeting,'' said Mitra Behnam-Mojtahedi.

Tehran had earlier dismissed Blair's comments as ''hateful''.

The West says Iran is seeking to develop atomic weapons and the UN Security Council passed a sanctions resolution on Saturday, drawn up by Britain, France and Germany but supported unanimously by the council, for not heeding repeated demands to halt sensitive atomic work.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday those who backed the UN resolution would soon regret their ''superficial act''.

Iran insists it wants only to make fuel for nuclear power plants.

''Blair's anti-Iranian efforts ... and also the anti-Iranian UN resolution will have no impact on Iranians' will to obtain their obvious and legal right to nuclear technology,'' Rahimpour said.

REUTERS SP LS RAI2317