Iran’s Khatami Decries Attack on Iraq

TEHRAN — Hours before the U.S.-led assault on Iraq ended Saturday, Iran’s President Mohammad Khatami called for a halt to the airstrikes, saying they were exacerbating regional tensions.

The call came as a senior official warned Washington about the safety of its ships after a stray missile from the strikes on Iraq crashed into Iranian territory Thursday.

Khatami said: “Iran wants America and England’s military operations against Iraq stopped and has also urged Iraq to comply with [U.N.] Security Council resolutions,” Tehran radio reported. He was speaking to Sergei Prikhodko, an envoy sent to Iran by Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin.

Khatami “expressed concern over what the oppressed people of Iraq are experiencing and said that these operations would only increase tension in the region,” the radio added.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the powerful Expediency Council, said a missile hit the southwestern port of Khorramshahr near the Iraqi border, causing damage but no injuries.

“If America launches a missile at Iran, none of its naval vessels would leave the Persian Gulf safely,” he said.