'UN to probe Sarkozy anti-Iran remark'
Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:50AM GMT

[img]http://previous.presstv.ir/photo/20110910/golinejad20110910044259170.jpg[/img]
French President Nicolas Sarkozy

A UN spokesman has reportedly said the world body will probe the recent remarks by French President Nicolas Sarkozy against the Islamic Republic of Iran.


Eduardo del Buey, the deputy spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said Friday that the United Nations needs to authenticate the veracity of the latest reports on Sarkozy's threatening remarks, IRNA reported on Saturday.

He also added that further comments could only come following further investigation into the case.

Sarkozy claimed on August 31 that Iran's alleged attempts to build long-range missiles and “nuclear weapons” could lead to the launch of pre-emptive attacks by unidentified countries.

French president's accusations against Iran comes as the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections on Iran's nuclear facilities but has never reported any evidence indicating that the country's civilian nuclear program has been diverted to any weapons program.

Meanwhile, Gerard Araud, the permanent representative of France to the United Nations, has denied that the French leader made threats against the Islamic Republic, describing latest reports on the issue as a 'misunderstanding,' IRNA reported.

GHN/MB

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/198341.html

'Enemy hostilities signify Iran's progress'

Tue Sep 6, 2011 10:37AM GMT

[img]http://previous.presstv.ir/photo/20110906/golinejad20110906080207733.jpg[/img]

An Iranian deputy intelligence minister says the hegemonic powers' increasing enmity towards the Islamic Republic attests to Tehran's forward advances and global clout.


“The enemies' hostility toward the Islamic system, which has increased over the past years, bears witness to the progresses and major achievements made in the country,” said Razavi, the security deputy to the Iranian intelligence minister, quoted by IRNA on Monday.

He made reference to enemy efforts to undermine the Islamic establishment and pointed out that Iran has foiled all the plots hatched against Tehran.

The Intelligence Ministry official went on to say that Iran's recent progresses have annoyed the world's hegemonic powers, which have applied strategies to undermine the country by means of sabotage, support for anti-Iran terrorists and assassination of Iranian scientists, among others.

Razavi said that Iran's intelligence and security forces have tackled and averted all the threats by hegemonic powers against the Islamic Republic.

He further noted that the Intelligence Ministry has localized data security and the country will take preemptive measures to maintain its overall security.

GHN/HRF/MB

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/197699.html

'Iran to react immediately if attacked'

Fri Sep 9, 2011 9:7AM GMT

[img]http://previous.presstv.ir/photo/20110909/pirhayati20110909064002577.jpg[/img]
Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaei

Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaei has warned that any aggression against the Islamic Republic will be swiftly met with 'appropriate' action.


Iran would not hesitate to act in self-defense and respond to any attacks on its territories, IRNA quoted a formal letter of complaint by Iran's UN envoy to the world body's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday.

Khazaei lashed out at the "inflammatory remarks and baseless allegations" made recently by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and underlined that the Islamic Republic would take appropriate defensive measures to protect itself.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its deep concern over such remarks, and strongly condemns the provocative, unjustifiable and irresponsible comments," the senior Iranian diplomat noted.

Sarkozy warned on August 31 that Iran's alleged attempts to build long-range missiles and “nuclear weapons” could lead unnamed countries to launch a pre-emptive attack.

French president's accusations against Iran comes as the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence indicating that Iran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.

MP/GHN/MGH

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/198192.html

Iran vows huge blow to any attacks
Wed Sep 7, 2011 9:12AM GMT

[img]http://previous.presstv.ir/photo/20110907/fathi20110907071936170.jpg[/img]
Commander of Iran's Ground Forces Brigadier-General Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan

A top Iranian Army commander has lauded the Islamic Republic's huge ground defense achievements, saying Iran's Armed Forces will deliver "the most severe response" to any likely threat posed by enemies.


Iran is equipped with the most advanced military hardware while our Armed Forces are fully prepared to defend the country's border regions, said Iran's Commander of the Ground Forces Brigadier-General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan on Wednesday.

He added that Iran has succeeded in developing great capabilities and making significant progress in the fields of electronic war and cyber defense, Mehr news agency reported.

“The Iranian Army's Ground Forces are regularly detecting potential threats and have been preparing for (countering) them,” he stated.

The United States and Israel have repeatedly threatened Tehran with the "option" of a military strike, based on the allegation that Iran's nuclear work may consist of a covert military agenda.

Iran says its nuclear program is completely peaceful and within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which it is a signatory.

Pourdastan further said that the Iranian Army's Ground Forces and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) are monitoring moves by the Party for Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) terrorist group in northwestern Iran.

Currently, there is no problem in Iran's land, sea and air borders, the senior Iranian commander pointed out.

He emphasized that PJAK terrorist group doesn't rise to the level of being referred to as a threat and said Iran gives firm response to the cell's desperate moves.

On Monday, the IRGC refused to accept a ceasefire offer by PJAK terrorists, urging them to immediately leave Iran's border areas.

“We demand that PJAK terrorist group should first withdraw from Iran's border regions. The announcement of a ceasefire has no meaning at the present,” an IRGC spokesman Colonel Hamid Ahmadi said.

In a Saturday statement, PJAK -- an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) -- called for a ceasefire with Tehran upon the request of some “mediation parties” on the ground and what it claimed was its belief in “peaceful solutions.”

PJAK members regularly engage in armed clashes with Iranian security forces along the country's western borders with Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

Nearly 30 terrorists had been killed or injured in the recent IRGC operations.

Iran has recently deployed 5,000 military forces in the northwest of the country, along its common border with the Iraqi Kurdistan region, to fight terrorist groups.

SF/HRF/MB
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/197859.html

'Iran fully ready to counter threats'
Fri Sep 9, 2011 2:16AM GMT

[img]http://previous.presstv.ir/photo/20110908/behravesh20110908233439577.jpg[/img]
Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Mostafa Izadi


A senior Iranian commander says Iran's military forces are fully ready to respond appropriately to any possible threat by the state enemies and arrogant powers.


Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Mostafa Izadi said on Thursday that Iran's military, backed by a powerful Basij (mobilization) force is “in optimum readiness” to confront any aggression against the country, IRNA reported.

Referring to popular Islamic uprisings in the regional countries, Brigadier General Izadi pointed out that such popular movements stem from Iran's Islamic Revolution against another US-backed dictator.

The Islamic awakening began in Tunisia in December 2010 and then spread to other Muslim nations, including Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and Bahrain, leading to the collapse of former Egyptian regime of Hosni Mubarak and the Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Iran has repeatedly stated that its military might poses no threat to other countries, reiterating that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence.

MAB/MB

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/198160.html

Iran slams West's HR double standards

Tue Sep 6, 2011 10:49AM GMT

[img]http://previous.presstv.ir/photo/20110906/golinejad20110906083331937.jpg[/img]
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast


Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has denounced the West's double standards on human rights issues and their attempts to undermine the Islamic Republic.


Mehmanparast, who heads a media delegation to Greece, has told his Greek counterpart Grigoris Delavekouras that Iran, a major country in the region, has effectively helped settle regional issues and crises, Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.

He censured the West over its double standard policies particularly on human rights issues and pointed out that anti-Iran sanctions have made the country progress further.

For his part, the Greek foreign ministry spokesman underscored Iran's significance and influential position in the region and expressed hope for further diplomatic exchange between Tehran and Athens.

Delavekouras referred to the historical relations between the two nations and pointed to the diversity of areas for bilateral cooperation.

Earlier, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, in a meeting with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Ali Ahani, had also voiced his country's willingness to bolster ties and cooperation with Iran in various fields, stressing that Athens attaches importance to the expansion of ties with Tehran.

The Greek premier also underlined his country's support for Iran's right of access and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, the report said.

GHN/HRF/MB

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/197707.html

If I weren't a friend of the West, I'll be building up weapons to defend myself. Iraq and Libya are perfect examples