The spokesman of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hamid-Reza Assefi was quoted Friday as saying in Tehran that Iran does not favor further escalation of political tension with the United States.
In an interview with Paris-based, widely circulated Le Figaro newspaper, Assefi was asked on Iran's current status following the September 11 terrorist events, and whether Iran is stronger or more isolated today.
The Iranian official replied that Iran's foreign minister was in Germany last week, Iranian Parliament speaker in Italy, and President Khatami visited Austria and Greece during the same period, asking the French reporter, "does that sound like isolation to you, not to mention the frequent visits of western and eastern political leaders to Tehran?"
Replying to a question on the US military presence almost everywhere in the neighborhood of Iran, Assefi said: "such a presence is definitely a threat for out national security, but it meanwhile leads to higher anti-American feelings in the whole region.
Answering to another question regarding numerous verbal attacks by different Iranian authorities against the United States, and whether Iran wished to become the axis of anti-American global campaign, Assefi said: "it is actually the Americans that arise the other nations' sensations against themselves, but Iran is neither after escalation of tension with the US administration, nor after intriguing the other nations to do so."
Assefi said during the interview that the Karine A ship story was a “Zionist scenario,” referring to the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as the world history's biggest war criminal.
Meanwhile, deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC), Brigadier Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr said Iran is never after a war, but it will strongly defend the country's honor, dignity and identity if attacked by warmongers.
"The Iranian people are very patient and restrained, but if the enemies attempt to once again try their bad luck by attacking the Islamic Republic, Iranians will emerge in full power and solidarity and teach them a lesson that the history will never forget," said Zolqadr, in Iran's northwestern city of Tabriz on Thursday.
According to IRNA, he further lashed out at those who advocate the idea that Islam is merely the religion of dialogue and peace and has no room for Jihad (holy war) and military struggle. "Islam, besides being a religion of logic and dialogue, will overcome to its knees in the face of the enemies' aggression and their expansionist aspirations," the official said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
