TEHRAN Iranian Defense Minister Rear-Admiral Ali Shamkhani, in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, rejected allegations by some Western countries that Iran is pursuing a nuclear arms program, and further denounced false statistics released by the U.S. on Iranian arms purchases. Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and its nuclear program is of peaceful nature, Shamkhani said, further highlighting that the Islamic Republic has never objected to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The defense minister expressed Iranian concerns over the recent nuclear tests by Pakistan and India, but stressed that despite the tests, Iran would honor its commitments to the NPT as well as the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Iranian defense strategy is one of deterrence, Iran has never started and will never start a war against any other country, Shamkhani emphasized.

Noting that U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf has never been broader before, Shamkhani called for exit of the American forces from the region. Commenting on the recent U.S. gestures towards Iran, Shamkhani said that the U.S. has only changed its tone toward the Islamic Republic, while in practice it still pursues the past policies. Shamkhani also referred to the U.S. funded anti-Iranian radio in the Czech Republic as a further display of U.S. antagonisms towards Iran. (IRNA)