2002-09-24-iranvicepresident-mohammadaliabtahi Hojatoleslam Mohammad Ali Abtahi, Iran's vice president in charge of legal and parliamentary affairs speaks with a Reuters correspondent in Tehran September 24, 2002. Abtahi, a top aide to Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said on Tuesday the West should have dealt with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein decades ago. But Vice-President Mohammad Ali said Iran opposes any U.S. strike on its former foe, saying a war in the region would inflict great suffering on the Iraqi people. REUTERS/Caren Firouz - Sep 24 12:36 AM ET