Iran dismisses Mullen’s threats

TEHRAN, Aug. 4 (MNA) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry has dismissed the threats made by the United States’ highest-ranking military officer.

In an interview broadcast on the NBC network’s program Meet the Press on Sunday, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said that Washington has drawn up plans to attack Iran in order to stop its nuclear activities.

“In case of an action against Iran, their fate will be worse than their miserable fate in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said.

However, he said that he believes there are still sensible people within the U.S. policymaking establishment who do not want to see the United States’ reputation ruined.

At his weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast also dismissed Mullen’s intimidating remarks, saying they were part of a psychological warfare campaign being waged against Iran.

“We witness many indiscreet remarks from them. We believe that these statements are due to their frustration over the repeated failures of their policies in the region,” he added.

Asked by the Mehr News Agency reporter whether Israel would initiate a new war in the region, he said, “Whenever the opportunity arises and the Zionist regime feels there is a division among (regional) countries, it will resume its attacks.”

Mehmanparast also stated that regional countries should be vigilant and maintain their unity in order to counter any Israeli threats.