US not in position to attack us, says Iran minister
Iran’s foreign minister today dismissed the threat of an attack against his country, saying that the US could not afford another conflict in the Middle East.
He spoke as President George Bush also sought to dampen down speculation of any military action.
Manouchehr Mottaki said Israel or the US would not “resort to such craziness” while the US economy is suffering and the country is bogged down in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“We do not foresee such a possibility at the moment. The Israeli government is facing a political breakdown within itself and within the region, so we do not foresee such a possibility for that regime to resort to such craziness,” he said.
“The United States, too, is not in a position where it can engage in, take another risk in the region.
“Of course, there are people in the United States who are interested in that. But we think that the rational thinkers in the United States will prevent from that action being taken, and will prevent the imposition of another adventuresome act that would put pressure on the American taxpayers.”
Mr Mottaki, speaking in New York, struck a generally conciliatory tone towards the United States, saying political and diplomatic solutions were Iran’s preference and that he sees improvements in the US tone recently as well as in some recent diplomatic offerings to Iran.
But if Iran is attacked, he said, it would respond as “any independent country”.
He also blamed the recent rise in oil prices globally in part on political tensions in the Middle East.
In Washington, President Bush said all options are on the table regarding Iran and its nuclear programme, but said military action would not be his first choice in the months remaining in his presidency.
“I have made it very clear to all parties that the first option ought to be to solve this problem diplomatically,” President Bush said.
“The best way to solve it diplomatically is for the United States to work with other nations to send a focused message – and that is, you will be isolated, and you will have economic hardship, if you continue to enrich.”
Iran says its nuclear programme is aimed only at generating electricity and cites its right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to pursue uranium enrichment, a process that can produce either fuel for a nuclear reactor or material for a warhead.
The UN has demanded Iran suspend enrichment and has imposed three rounds of similar financial sanctions on Iranian companies and individuals.
The US and European allies have been pushing Iran to halt enrichment and offering incentives, to no avail.
Israel has reportedly held military exercises suggesting it was practising for a potential strike against Iran’s nuclear installations.
Meanwhile, the top US military officer said an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities would be a high-risk move and it could destabilise the Middle East.
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, refused to say what Israel has told him about any military intentions regarding Iran.
But asked whether he was concerned about such a possibility, he said that just about every move in that region is a high-risk move.
Earlier, Iran’s oil minister warned any attack on his country would provoke an unimaginably fierce response.
Gholam Hossein Nozari also said that military moves against Tehran would cause even greater volatility in oil markets that are seeing new price records set almost daily.
Also today, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said a compromise is possible in the country’s stand-off with the West over its nuclear programme.
Ali Akbar Velayati wrote a commentary for France’s Liberation newspaper saying that Iran’s nuclear power technology must be preserved for the future.
The former foreign minister also says Iran’s adherence to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty gives it rights in exchange for its commitments.
Mr Velayati writes: “That’s how a compromise could be reached on the common concerns of Iran and other states.”
