TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said Tuesday it would support any U.N.-led international coalition against terrorism, but cautioned against a U.S. military strike on Afghanistan. (Read photo caption below)
A security official said Iranian forces were on alert along the Afghan border to turn away refugees in case of a U.S. assault on following last week's attacks on the United States.
Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi held telephone conversations with his Canadian, French and German counterparts in a diplomatic frenzy to try to avert a new war in Afghanistan, which harbors Saudi-born Osama bin Laden -- Washington's prime suspect in the attacks on New York and Washington.
``The lack of support in the Muslim world for military action in Afghanistan emanates from a deep concern about jeopardizing the lives of thousands of innocent people and displacement of millions of Afghans,'' Kharrazi told Canada's John Manley.
``To prevent a new catastrophe in Afghanistan, we must keep every action within the framework of the United Nations and under its supervision,'' he said, quoted by Iran's IRNA news agency.
However, the Canadian daily National Post said senior Iranian officials had sent a message to Washington through Canada saying Tehran would not oppose targeted military strikes against those believed responsible for the attacks.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei advised the United States Monday against a full-scale war in Afghanistan, saying that would worsen Washington's problems.
UNPRECEDENTED SYMPATHY
Iranian leaders have strongly condemned the attacks in an unprecedented show of sympathy with the United States, which the Islamic republic regards as its arch-foe.
Several hundred youths held a silent candlelight vigil in a north Tehran square late Tuesday to show solidarity with Americans. The gathering worsened the capital's notorious traffic jams but few drivers appeared upset.
The crowd, mostly reformists, dispersed peacefully after more than an hour after repeated calls by police. Officers prevented several television teams from filming the scene.
Earlier Tuesday, leading lawmaker Ahmad Bourqani visited the U.S. interest section at the Swiss embassy to pay respects to the victims of the attack on behalf of the reformist parliament.
``All humanity is bound by universal moral principles to stand against such ugly incidents and try to root out terrorism,'' Bourqani said.
Switzerland has represented American interests in Iran since Washington broke ties with the Islamic republic following the 1979 seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran by Iranian militants.
Iran strongly opposes Afghanistan's Taliban rulers and backs a northern opposition alliance.
In 1998, Iran came to the brink of war with the Taliban after Taliban militiamen stormed an Iranian diplomatic mission in northern Afghanistan and killed a number of its staff. A conflict was averted after U.N. intervention.
Iranian officials fear war in Afghanistan would unleash a new refugee influx into their country, which already hosts about 1.5 million Afghans. Tehran has stepped up efforts to repatriate the refugees in recent months.
Deputy Interior Minister Gholamhossein Bolandian said on Tuesday that police had sealed the 570-mile border with Afghanistan in preparation for possible U.S. action.
Bolandian said troops could be deployed if needed. ``We have told the police to prevent anyone entering Iran and until now no refugee has crossed the border,'' he said.
He official said Iran would welcome cooperation from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to set up camps for the refugees inside Afghanistan.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, foreground, prays after his speech during a gathering in Tehran, Monday, Sept. 17, 2001." Iran condemns any possible military action in Afghanistan that may cause any further human tragedy. If America wants to expand it's power in the region through a presence in Pakistan and a military expedition in Afghanistan, it will just add to its own problems," Khamenei said. (AP Photo)