Italy FM delays Iran visit over anti-Israel comments

AFP: Italy Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has delayed a visit to Iran after "unacceptable statements" made by the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Italian government said Thursday.

ROME (AFP) — Italy Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has delayed a visit to Iran after "unacceptable statements" made by the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Italian government said Thursday.

A statement from Italy's foreign ministry said Frattini's visit had been put back "in light of the unacceptable statements made by high-ranking Iranian officials against the state of Israel and the American administration."

Frattini and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had been set to meet this month to discuss the security situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

On Wednesday, Khamenei said that "the only way to save Palestine is resistance", also describing Israel as a "cancerous tumour."

Despite the talks' postponement, the Italian government stressed its commitment to engage with Iran on "all future international initiatives regarding Afghanistan."

Italy, which takes over the G8 presidency later this year, is expected to organise a conference of foreign ministers this June aimed at bringing stability to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The meeting will also be open to non-G8 members.