Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Monday Iranian armed forces are prepared to resist any possible threats, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Rafsanjani, chairman of the Expediency Council, told a group of top military officials that Iran's policy is rather preventive and deterrent than aggressive.
Commenting on the Mideast situation, Rafsanjani pointed out that the United States has reembarked on the "era of adventurism," noting that the Iranian armed forces should be ready to thwart possible threats and carry out their deterrent role.
According to the former president, the American military deployment in the region to attack Afghanistan, its arms buildup and its swift declaration on ousting the Iraqi government, are all evidences of the adventuristic nature of Washington.
"The US goal of attacking Iraq is not to save the people but to pursue its own interests, especially regional energy resources," he was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Commenting on the US President George W. Bush's statements at the UN General Assembly, Rafsanjani said Washington "very clearly and explicitly issued ultimatum to the United Nations that if it fails to settle the Iraq problem, it will do it itself."
He said Bush's claim means that the will of a head of a state overrides that of 190 states. (Albawaba.com)
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