Iran Seeks A World Free Of Violence: Min.

Tehran, April 8, IRNA – Iran seeks a world without violence, Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan said on Tuesday. He made the remarks in a ceremony commemorating the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. ˈIran is ready to help the international community accomplish a more peaceful, prosperous and developed world,ˈ Dehqan noted. He underlined that working with the international community for building a world free of violence has been always part of Islamic Republicˈs defense doctrine. ˈIranian nation is a peace-seeking nation and has not raided any other country in the past two centuries,ˈ the minister added. ˈFormer Iraqi dictator Saddam Hossein imposed an eight-year war on Iran and it has been for years that Tehran is trying to clear the minefields left over from the 1980-88 war,ˈ he noted Some 4.5 million hectares of Iranˈs soil contaminated with mines have been cleared and decreased to less than 28,000 hectares, he said./end