First VP:

Iran No Warmonger State, But Ready for Military Confrontation If Necessary

Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri described Iran as a peace-seeking nation, but meantime, said his nation does not fear military confrontation to defend itself against enemies.

News ID: 445478

Date: 18 June 2019 - 18:43

RNA - "The US spoke of (re)negotiations when it realized that Iran does not fear military threats. The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran has said, with the backup of the government and Armed Forces, that anyone who has bullied should account for it," Jahangiri said, addressing people in the Northwestern province of Zanjan on Tuesday.

"Our strategy is resistance. The way to struggle is to say that we resist without holding an offensive weapon; of course, if somewhere we need to hold weapon in our hand, we will," he added, elaborating that resistance means that the ordinary people's everyday life in Iran should not be faced with problems.

Jahangiri noted that Iran has proved that it is not a warmongering nation, but is a rational state.

His remarks came as the US and its allies are exerting maximum pressures by economic war and different allegations.

One Japanese-owned and one Norwegian-owned tanker were struck by explosions near the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Thursday morning. Tokyo said both vessels were carrying “Japanese-related” cargo.

While many details of the incident are still shrouded in mystery, the US was quick to blame Iran.

The Japanese company that owns the ‘Kokuka Courageous’ tanker has said its crew spotted “flying objects” before the attack in the Gulf of Oman, contradicting US claims that the vessel was damaged by a naval mine.

Later that day, the US military released a blurry video showing what they claimed were Iranian sailors removing an “unexploded limpet mine” from the ‘Kokuka Courageous.’ The poor quality of the video made it especially challenging to independently verify the claims.

Katada’s account partly contradicted American allegations of a mine attack, but did mention that the crew had spotted an Iranian Navy ship nearby. However, the president failed to specify whether it was there before or after the attack.

It is unknown who would benefit from targeting the ships, but the timing of the incidents is especially sensitive. The attack on the tankers that were carrying “Japan-related” cargo notably came during a rare visit to Tehran by Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

According to Fars News Agancy, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said his country was strong enough to act in broad daylight if it intended to stop the flow of oil exports from the Persian Gulf, rejecting accusations about Iran's involvement in the recent sabotage attacks on 2 oil tankers in the Sea of Oman.

"The US and its allies are projecting the blame on Iran for the recent incidents in the Persian Gulf (the attacks against the oil tankers in Fujairah and Sea of Oman) to raise allegations against Iran while if the Islamic Republic of Iran intends to stop exports of oil from the Persian Gulf, it will do that in full, and will announce it publically and clearly given the country and its Armed Forces' power and will not embark on deceitful and stealth acts like the terrorist and cheater US and its regional and international extensions which foment insecurity in the world," General Baqeri said on Monday.

He added that the Iranian Armed Forces were at present monitoring the enemies' moves wisely, precisely and round the clock and would give a crushing and open response to any enemy move and in a very broad region.

General Baqeri said Iran was now facing a new Saddam named Trump who resorted to complicated and dangerous methods, schemes and economic and psychological warfare against Tehran in a bid to pressure Tehran and make it believe that it had the only two options of war or negotiations that would lead to Iran's surrendering.

"Therefore, the Islamic Republic has opted for resistance and revolutionary and active defense and will stand for it strongly," he underscored.

847/940