Minister: Iran's policy aims to establish itself as regional power

IRNA:

Aug 13, 2005

Defense Minister Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani here Saturday said that Iran persuades a policy that would make itself established as a regional power, quite contrary to the will of others.

Speaking at a ceremony held to appreciate his efforts in developing the national aerial industry, he added that the wide public turnout to the voting boxes in the recent presidential election and failure of various scenarios drawn up against Iran increased the potential of the country.

According to a report released by the Media Department of the Ministry of Defense, Shamkhani urged that the national capabilities should be used wisely.

"Fundamental strategies are needed on the domestic scene, while in our relations with the world we need to proceed with authority," he added.

The minister criticized Europe's recent proposal to Iran about its nuclear dossier and said that they have called on Iranian officials for guarantee.

He added that this is while they themselves are not committed to their pledges and just keep on making recommendations to Iran.

Stressing that no power does ever take shape without resistance, Shamkhani noted, "We can promote the potential for resistance in the country." He referred to the recent events in Lebanon and said that following the assassination of the Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri the ultra-regional powers were up to launch a revolution in the country.

"However, through proper approach of Hizbullah resistance became broad-based across the country and was converted into a national phenomenon," he added. Turning to the electoral mottos of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he said that people cast their votes in favor of someone who did not raise any mottos with relation to the US.

"He rather referred to the events and dialogues of 1978 which proves that the developments in the country were domestic and hardly impressed by foreign factors," he added.