Iranian officials can't seem to agree on whether they are Israel's friend or not - even as Iranian work to complete a nuclear bomb aimed largely at the Jewish state continues at a frenzied pace.

Ali Larijani, the Chairman of the Iranian parliament, wished to correct the impression left by one of the country's vice presidents, and said on Monday, "Iran is not a friend of the Israeli nation."  So reported the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

Larijani said his unfriendly view jibes with that of Iranian leader Ali Hamanei.

Veep Had Said the Opposite

The announcement came in response to a declaration by Iranian Vice President Aspandiar Rahim Mashaei that Iran is not hostile to Israel.  Mashaei said recently that Israelis "don't wear army boots in the streets."  Further back in the past, he said that Iran is actually a friend of Israel.

Mashaei is a son-in-law of Iranian President Ahmedinajad, and is considered very close to him.

Ahmedinajad told visiting Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Monday that Iran will not abandon its nuclear program, despite the international protests and sanctions. The Iranian TV website reports that the Iranian leader noted that major powers understand that Iran will continue to pursue its "peaceful nuclear program."



EU Restricts Trade

On Friday, the European Union tightened trade restrictions on Iran, and yet a fourth round of sanctions is threatened over Tehran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment.  Iranian government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham said in response that Iran's nuclear policies "will not change," and that the country will manage "under any circumstances."