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US Must Accept Iran As Regional Power
Tehran (AFP) Apr 06, 2006 The head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday the United States must accept the Islamic Republic as a regional power which cannot be left isolated. Attending the naval war games in the Gulf, General Yahya Rahim Safavi said on state television: "America must take the wish of isolating Iran to the grave". Iran has been showing off its "homegrown" military achievements such as radar-evading and anti-ship missiles -- which the United States regards as proof of Tehran's willingness to risk international isolation in pursuit of its nuclear ambitions. Dismissing "propaganda" that Iran might have overstated its military prowess, Safavi insisted "our equipment is advanced, domestic and real". The powerful commander called on the US forces to leave the region as "their presence in the Persian Gulf is a threat to us". Thousands of Iranian troops are conducting the war games, which involve the Revolutionary Guards Corps navy and air force, Iran's regular army and navy, the volunteer Basij militia, and the Iranian police. They kicked off last Friday and are due to run until Thursday.
Source: Agence France-Presse Related Links - Iran Raises Specter Of Damage To World Oil Shipping London (AFP) Apr 06, 2006 Amid concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions, analysts are worried it could resort to a wide range of weapons and tactics to disrupt the world's busiest oil shipping lanes if armed conflict erupts with the United States. |
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