Diplomat Warns of Iran’s Crushing Response to Aggression
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian deputy foreign minister in a meeting with an Indonesian parliamentary delegation reiterated the defensive nature of the country’s military power, but warned that any offense against the Islamic Republic will draw a crushing response.
Chairman of the Defense, Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Information Commission of the People's Representative Council of Indonesia, Abdul Kharis Almasyhari, and a number of the commission’s members met with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi in Tehran on Wednesday.
In the meeting, Araqchi welcomed the expansion of relations with Indonesia in all fields, explicated the Islamic Republic of Iran’s defense policy, and stressed that reinforcement of Iran’s defense capabilities is for deterrence and not against any other country.
“In its modern history, Iran has not started any war, and will not do so hereafter either. However, it would not have the slightest hesitation in defending itself, and will respond to any aggressor immediately and crushingly,” the Foreign Ministry’s website quoted him as saying.
On Iran’s peaceful nuclear program and the US’ baseless allegations, the Iranian diplomat said, “According to the fatwa (religious edict) of the Supreme Leader, we deem any kind of non-peaceful use of nuclear energy haram (forbidden) and rejected.”
“We have locally developed this technology within the framework of a peaceful program, with the capabilities of our own scientists,” he said.
Araqchi also emphasized that the US’ cruel sanctions against the Iranian nation are illegal and inhumane in nature, saying, however, that Iran is determined to turn them into an opportunity for transforming the national economy.
For his part, chairman of the Indonesian parliamentary commission lauded Iran’s self-confidence and independence, stressed the need for the enhancement of parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, and voiced Indonesia’s readiness for cooperation with Iran in all fields, including the fight against extremism and terrorism.
