Iran's Defense Minister Rear-Admiral Ali Shamkhani Wednesday dubbed as "joke of the year" western press reports that Iran may give bases to the US in the event of a probable attack on Iraq.
"We will not accompany Americans in any military operation," he told IRNA after signing a memorandum of understanding for defense and security cooperation with Algerian Chief of Joint Staff Lieutenant General Muhammad al-Imari. Shamkhani reiterated Tehran's opposition to a unilateral move" and "military action" against Iraq amid US threats to remove Saddam Hussein.
Asked about press reports that Washington had plans to appoint an American officer as governor of Iraq after Saddam is toppled, he said, "I think this strategy is more backward than returning to the classic colonial era and is a form of return to cowboyism." This indicates America's lack of knowledge about "Iraq's domestic situation, sensitive situation of the Middle East region and awareness of the Islamic world's public opinion", he aired.
Shamkhani said Iran was ready to fend off any threat to its borders, echoing speculation that Iran may suffer from the effects of a military showdown in its next door neighbor. "Whether a war breaks out in the region or not, the Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared with full strength to defend its territorial integrity and national interests," he said. (Albawaba.com)
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