Tehran, 22 July: Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani criticized the International Criminal Court for issuing arrest warrant against Sudanese president terming it politically motivated.

He made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's senior adviser and special envoy Ghazi Salaheddin.

The bullying powers create obstacles in the way of progress and development of any independent state, he added.

Condemning the US unilateralism, Larijani stressed that Washington has made use of international circles as political tools for achieving its objectives.

The speaker regretted that the international bodies lose their credibility as a result of following the US lead.

On Tehran-Khartoum relations, he said the two Muslim nations enjoy amicable relations. He further voiced the Islamic Republic's support for Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Salaheddin, who is leader of the dominant northern National Congress Party's parliamentary majority bloc, called for further expansion of all-out ties between the two countries. Announcing Khartoum's full support for Iran's peaceful nuclear programme, he said the nuclear programme for civilian purposes is legitimate right of all countries.

He reiterated that Iran's success to produce nuclear energy would benefit the entire Muslim World. As to the warrant issued by the Hague to arrest President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, he said by such measures the West is trying to weaken Sudan's independence.

Even in the Western countries the peace-loving and freedom- seeking personalities are against the warrant, the Sudanese envoy added.

Originally published by Islamic Republic News Agency website, Tehran, in English 0625 22 Jul 08.

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Story Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East