Posted on 01/23/2005 1:39:00 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
TEHRAN -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi on Sunday branded the U.S. president’s recent statements as a declaration of cultural and religious war against the world.
Asefi also said that Bush’s remarks included many countries and that Bush’s own friends called it a comprehensive war against the world.
“We consider such statements to be a clear example of cultural and religious war which produce only animosity toward U.S. policies throughout the world,” Asefi told reporters at his weekly press briefing.
Asefi also stated that the U.S. charges against Iran are part of psychological operations which are carried out from time to time.
“The main core of the U.S. propaganda is militarism, which we regard as psychological warfare,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman noted.
Asefi added that no country in the world cared about President George W. Bush’s statements and even his friends within the Republican Party called his statements improper.
Tel Aviv decides for Washington
Asefi also said that Iran was quite right to say that the U.S. policies are decided by Israel and the Zionist lobby in the United States.
On Thursday, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said Iran is “right at the top” of the Bush administration’s list of world trouble spots, and said that Israel “might well decide to act first” to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“The statements by Cheney and the Zionist officials are two sides of the same coin, and this confirms the Islamic Republic’s view that Tel Aviv and the Zionist lobby in the U.S. determine the policies of Washington, and this is no surprise for us,” Asefi said.
If one day Washington decides to improve its reputation in the eyes of the rest of the world, it will be compelled to make serious efforts to rid itself of Zionist influence, he added.
Asefi went on to say that the U.S. administration has replaced logic with bullying in its dealings with the world and expressed hope that Bush would adopt a logical approach during his second term.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman also said that Iran is powerful enough to defend itself in the face of any attack by Israel.
"The Islamic Republic is strong enough and has the ability to defend itself,” he asserted.
Iran says any U.S. attack would be “strategic mistake”
The Foreign Ministry spokesman downplayed the U.S. military threats against Tehran but immediately observed that it would be a “major strategic mistake” if the U.S. launched a military attack against Iran.
"We consider it to be psychological warfare, unless someone wants to make a major strategic mistake," Asefi said.
Bush said last week that military action had not been ruled out to deal with Iran's nuclear program.
U.S. rhetoric meant to derail talks between Iran and EU
The Foreign Ministry spokesman also said that the repeated allegations against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program are meant to discourage the Europeans in their talks with Iran.
Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi also said on Sunday that the recent statements about Iran are part of a psychological warfare campaign being waged against the Islamic Republic which is meant to influence the nuclear talks between Iran and the European Union.
The representatives of Iran and the European Union held constructive talks in Geneva, Switzerland, last week and they are going to meet again on February 8 or 9.
"The Americans make those remarks against Iran in order to influence the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and Europe," Yunesi told reporters in parliament.
The Intelligence minister said that precautionary measures have been taken and there is nothing to be worried about. "All military, security, economic, and political measures were adopted three years ago. Iran expects to see no threat, but at the same time it has adopted all precautionary measures."
Noting that the U.S. military threats against Iran cannot be translated into reality, he stated, "It would be the biggest and most stupid mistake if the U.S. tried to materialize its threats against Iran. "Iran is neither Afghanistan nor Iraq. Iran is the entire Islamic world and all of history. It will neutralize any plot through its great national, military, and international power and capabilities.”
Turning to the false reports claiming that U.S. commandos had infiltrated into Iran, Yunesi called such claims a joke. “Today we have the most secure land, maritime, and air borders and no American or non-American dares to set foot upon Iranian soil.”
"The Islamic Republic is strong enough and has the ability to defend itself,” he asserted.
It's Iran's Baghdad Bob! (Tehran Tom?)
This is so absurd that the "barf alert" is almost insulting.
Awww, izzn't that cute.
Look what the Mullahs allowed 'em to write.
This oughta p-o some folks over in the middle east!
"It will neutralize any plot through its great national, military, and international power and capabilities.”
“Today we have the most secure land, maritime, and air borders and no American or non-American dares to set foot upon Iranian soil.”
Wonder what these Mullahs are gonna do when they realize how big their internal resistance movement really is? I'm hoping that when they do wake up and smell the rebellion coffee, it will be too late for them.
The problem with these kinds of articles is that the more THEY talk, the more I want to bomb 'em.
They demonstrate a strategy of self-destruction, but they're good at that. Iran = national suicide bomb?
Tehran Times, New York Times, same thing.
These guys must have all attended the Tariq Azziz School of Bullsh!t.
Floating on a sea of oil, they need nuclear reactors for "peaceful power". Right.
I listened high and low and don't recall Bush declaring war against anyone.
Or a few Apaches and Cobras. Somebody's gotta have some fun!
Great graphic!
I hardly consider the Islamic fundamentalist cult of death to be a legitamite "culture". Also, Iran isn't all what is Islam, the Arabs in Saudi land think they are. Iran is just a bunch of conquered Zoristianians Persians. They aren't Islamic by choice, only by force.
By declaring his intent for America to spread democracy through the world, it's like pouring water on the wicked witch and melting them away.
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