Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday called the US weapon deal an old trick to create division in the region. "This is not the first time the US sells weapons to the region; they in the past 20 years have sold over 400 billion worth of weapons to the region. The US is trying its best to create division in the region so to impose its policies to the Middle East," the president made the remark in a meeting with a group of Algerian journalists and mediapersons prior to his Monday Algeria visit.

The Iranian leader added that his country was not worried about this package, because it had brotherly relations with the region. According to IRNA, he also referred to the efforts of the US for fixating the Zionist regime in the region and said, "They are trying to introduce the region's enemy as a friend and the region's true friend as an enemy." "My only advice to our regional brothers is that, do not waste your national resources and capitals on such things; apply and use them for your country's progress and development."

Ahmadinejad also said that all Iran's nuclear activities have been in accordance with the international laws and regulations and it is firmly determined to continue the activities within the same framework. "Whatever the Islamic Republic of Iran has done so far have been based on the international laws and regulations. We have had maximum level of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency," said Ahmadinejad.

© 2007 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)