Iranian military program merely for defense, deterrence: Kanaani

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Apr 2023 12:27

The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson says the Iranian military program is not against any country that has no intention of aggression against Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani (Iranian Foreign Ministry website)

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stressed on Sunday that Iran's military program is only defensive and deterrent in nature and is not against any country that has no intention of aggression against the country.

"The provocative statements of the US Secretary of State regarding Iran’s military program are made with the sole purpose of keeping up the marketing of American weapons by fueling the abortive project of Iranophobia and creating discord among the countries of the region," Kanaani pointed out, responding to the remarks of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken about Washington's attempts to disrupt the Iranian military programs and impose new anti-Iran sanctions.

On Thursday, Blinken said the US is "firmly committed to disrupting Iran’s military procurement activities."

He also announced that the US is "designating entities from Iran and the People’s Republic of China involved in such destabilizing behavior."

We are firmly committed to disrupting Iran’s military procurement activities. We are designating entities from Iran and the People’s Republic of China involved in such destabilizing behavior.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) April 20, 2023

The Iranian diplomat underlined that "contrary to the ill-considered statements of the American regime’s Secretary of State, the Islamic Republic of Iran, within the framework of the good-neighborliness policy, has always laid emphasis on dialog, participation and regional cooperation to ensure the security and common interests of the regional countries, away from the interference of foreigners."

The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson reiterated that "the Iranian military program is only defensive and deterrent in nature and is not against any country that has no intention of aggression against Iran."

He said the ill-considered and wrong actions of the US over decades have been the source of insecurity, instability, and war in the region.

Elsewhere, Kanaani considered that it is in the best interest of the United States to "abandon its erroneous, interventionist and irresponsible approaches to the issues concerning the regional countries and allow the process of strengthening stability and peace to continue its way forward with the cooperation and participation of the regional countries."

On April 19, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated six people and one entity allegedly involved in Iran's acquisition of electronic components.

"Treasury will continue to enforce its sanctions against Iran’s military procurement efforts that contribute to regional insecurity and global instability," Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said.