Iran Cannot Be Deterred By US Warnings: Analyst

Islamabad, Jan 15, IRNA -- Pakistani senior analyst on Saturday categorically said that US warning against Iran would have no meaningful effect. Talking to IRNA, Maj Gen (Retd.) Jamshed Ayaz Khan said that Iran is a powerful country of the region and cannot be deterred by threats. “Warning of US will remain a warning and cannot be transformed into reality,” he said. The Obama administration has warned Iran that closing of the Strait of Hormuz would trigger a US response. Maj Gen (Retd.) Jamshed Ayaz Khan was of the view that US and western countries are not in a position to attack Iran and the situation will gradually calm down. The analyst said that the role of China and Russia would be very critical in this regard adding that both the countries will not support further sanctions against Iran. “West cannot impose more sanctions on Iran as they will not be able to gather the support for the move,” opined Maj Gen (Retd.) Jamshed Ayaz Khan. He further slammed the sanctions by saying 'we do not welcome sanctions but we declare that the Iranian nation has mounted its efforts to reach the highest peaks of achievement.' He said that US is following a strange approach towards Iran. He warned that Iran is not Iraq or Afghanistan and would retaliate if attacked. The analyst viewed that such situation will not arise otherwise the whole region will suffer. He was hopeful that west will resolve all issues with Iran peacefully. Maj Gen (Retd.) Jamshed Ayaz Khan said that it is very encouraging to see that has Iran managed to remove the grip of big economic powers by using its domestic resources. He added that Iran is a close neighbor of Pakistan and this friendship must grow further. “The stability of Iran is in the interest of Pakistan,” he maintained Jamshed Ayaz Khan retired as a Major General in 2001 after serving for approximately 39 years in the Army including eleven years as a General Officer. He is also the member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London, the Asia Society, New York and the Rotary Club International./end