Regional security belt impossible without Iran: Ex-diplomat

Tehran, Nov 11, IRNA - Iran's Former Ambassador to Paris Sadeq Kharrazi said on Tuesday that establishment of a security belt in the Middle East region would not be achieved without Tehran. Kharrazi made the remarks talking to IRNA on the sidelines of the 20th Exhibition of Press and News Agencies underway in Tehran. He underscored that American statesment are well aware of Iran's influential role in the region. The evaluations of institutes for futures studies and decision-making circles in the US have shown that Americans have spent over $3 trillion in the Middle East during the past years, but the Islamic Republic of Iran has been the major winner in the region, he added. Today's Iran is the decision-maker and most important country in the Middle East and the Islamic world, said the former deputy foreign minster./end