IRAN SAYS U.S. LATE IN DROPPING IT FROM DRUG LIST

TEHRAN, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Iran said on Tuesday the United States was
extremely late in taking it off a U.S. list of sources of illegal drugs,
Iranian state television reported.

"Iran's important role and its major investment in fighting drugs and
preventing the transit of drugs to other countries, especially Europe, is so
obvious that no country can deny it," the television quoted Foreign Minister
Kamal Kharrazi as saying.

"America has been very late in admitting this reality," Kharrazi said.

The United States said on Monday it had dropped Iran and Malaysia from its
list of countries considered to be major drug producers or transit nations.

Tehran radio earlier said the U.S. decision did not signify a change in
Washington's hostile attitude towards Tehran.

"America's reason in omitting Iran's name should be seen as the result of
the realities of Iran's struggle against drug smuggling forcing themselves
on the prevailing viewpoint in the American government...not America's
change of policy toward Iran," the state-run radio said in a commentary.

There has been a slight thaw in relations between the United States and Iran
since the election last year of moderate President Mohammad Khatami. But
Iranian officials have said Tehran will not consider better relations unless
Washington ceases its hostile attitude towards the Islamic republic.

"Despite what is regarded as the American government's change of tone
towards Iran, its practical policy in this regard has not changed yet," the
radio said.

It said a recent U.S. decision to keep holding Iranian assets frozen in the
United States after the 1979 Islamic revolution was an example of
Washington's continued hostility.

"Even if the White House's decision...can be regarded as a change of policy,
this change has -- as in the past -- either been forced upon it by facts or
is void of political value."

Iran is a major transit route for drugs smuggled from Afghanistan and
Pakistan to Europe. Tehran had often blasted Washington for keeping it on
the list of drug states, saying the United States ignored Iran's efforts in
fighting narcotics.

The United States severed diplomatic relations with Iran after militant
students seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979. They held 52 Americans
hostage for 444 days.

Checked-by: Don Beck