Defense Minister: US Unlikely To Fall In Another Trap In Region

Tehran, Aug 28, IRNA – Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said on Tuesday that given enormous problems the US is facing as a result of invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, it would be extremely unlikely for Washington to commit a new mistake in the region by falling into another trap. In an exclusive interview with IRNA, Dehqan commented on recent claims by US officials on Syria and their efforts to attribute use of chemical arms to the countrys government forces. I believe that the experiences the US have acquired from its invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan would prevent it from making another mistake and plunged into another whirlpool. The US State Secretary John Kerry claimed on Monday that there are clear evidences at hand proving that Syria had recently used chemical weapons and Washington holds the country's government accountable in this connection. Many experts consider use of such anti-Syria literature by the US as an attempt by the US to drum war on Syria over recent days. Dehqan went on to say that Washington tries to recruit some countries and dispatch its trained and supported terrorist groups to Syria to act against the legal government of the country. The minister said naturally, White House seeks pretexts to pile up pressure on Syria in different ways. Use of chemical weapons or other weapons of mass destruction by the Syrian government after its recent victories in war on terrorists is impossible. Such moves is a plot by the US and its backed terrorist groups; of course, they would not be able to use such plots as a means to meet their goals in Syria and they are unlikely to take military action against the country. Commenting more on war on Syria, he said any military action would endanger security and stability of the entire region. Such a thing would not be definitely in favor of those favoring violence. The Minister then outlined outcome of his talks with Omani monarch Sultan Qaboos and said in the talks the two sides touched on special attention of their countries to maintaining regional security. He said, Both countries share common stances on the need to stabilize and consolidate security in the region. In the meeting, the two sides agreed that mutual defense cooperation should further expand so that they would further benefit from their capacities in the area of defense./end