Iran refutes UK PM for unfounded claims at Persian Gulf Cooperation Council

Tehran, Dec 11, IRNA – Minister of Defense and Logistics of the Armed Forces Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan on Sunday refuted UK prime minister Theresa May for anti-Iran claims she made at the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council. Dehqan made the remarks in his speech to the International Conference on Security opened in Tehran Sunday. Dehqan said the claims show several things: First of all, her immaturity and being a new comer. He said the second point is the vacuum in Britain now makes sense. 'After the US elections and the concerns the Arab states of the Persian Gulf feel with their future; the UK feels it can come back to the region.' 'However, by raising Iranophobia, they stir escalation with aim for marketing their arms. Naturally, to set up arms market, they spread a series of remarks which are miscalculated and they think those being the target of such claims, can easily understand the root causes of such statements.' The minister said the third point is that the UK thinks it is in a new age and era and can revive the British colonialism in various parts of the world.' 'Here, they set up bases in Bahrain or various places; in another word, they have military presence for the same of their national interests and objectives in the region; so, we do not heed such claims.' As for the role of such International Conferences on Security and the tools which might be used for restoration of order, stability and security in any region, he said, 'We consider an issue from the domestic standpoint of countries and region. It means that if all nations decide their destiny, national security will be established and in light of national security, stability will exist in the region practically.' Dehqan said the first step in establishing regional order is to take heed of demand of nations to decide their fate. 'That the goals of countries depend on maintaining goals and interests of others, is of importance. Letting foreigners step into the region will actually create a sort of insecurity. In our opinion, presence of foreign forces in the region will cause insecurity and even Takfiri wings are the envoys of transregional powers and a kind of proxy war has been waged.' 'The best form, is collective security in which regional states try to form coalitions and collective efforts against aggressions and moves of the transregional countries. This is the only way which can be done.' As for claims of the US President Donald Trump that Daesh is getting annihilated, Dehqan said he is joking. International Conference on Security opened on Sunday morning with speeches of Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, Minister of Intelligence Hojjatoleslam Mahmoud Alavi, Head of the Strategic Studies Center of the Presidential Office Hessameddin Ashena, spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Behrouz Kamalvandi, and a group of thinkers and political experts. Six educational workshops have been held on the sidelines. 1378/IRNA