Rafsanjani Says U.S. War on Iraq Triggers Bitter Consequences
Rafsanjani who was in Tabriz to take part in a meeting marking the memory of the prominent scholar Allameh Tabatabaei added that the evil consequences of the war in Iraq would even bring about negative consequences for the United States itself.
Speaking to reporters before leaving Tabriz, he said the United States would get stuck in a swamp much worse than that of Afghanistan if it launches attack on Iraq.
He called on the officials to get united and vigilant vis-a-vis the developments taking shape in the region and called for efforts to protect the Iran borders under every circumstances.
In his talks with the clerics, people and officials of the East Azarbaijan Province, Rafsanjani commented on the situation in the region and in the world.
He said the enemy is now targeting Islam and the Islamic Revolution of Iran.
He said the enemy is pursuing its fight against the Islamic values by continuing its cultural onslaught against the Muslim Iranian nations and in particular the youth.
He called on the clerics to try to attract the young generation by shedding light on the realities and explain the lofty principles and values of Islam.
He said the people could face any threat by relying on the religious faith.
Iranian people and officials have to bolster their resolve in view of the existing situation and remain united and alert toward the enemy's plots, he said. Rafsanjani refuted recent US allegations about Iran's nuclear program, saying such propaganda by the US and certain western states are "unfounded rumors."
Ayatollah Rafsanjani said that if the Americans dared to land in Iraq they will be dragged in quagmire.
His comments echoed his earlier remark that the Americans have no experience in the ground battle and they preferred to bomb Afghanistan, but their casualties have skyrocketed since they landed in Afghanistan.
He said that the United States has ventured to take militarist approach on world affairs in the absence of a major rival, the former Soviet Union.
He said that Iranian Armed Forces should be well prepared to defend the country while the U.S. militarism is posing a threat to world peace, IRNA said.
Ayatollah Rafsanjani said that the majority of Iranian population are experienced in defense of their country due to the eight-year sacred defense against Iraqi aggression (1980-1988).
He said that the Iranian Armed Forces are well-experienced in putting an end to ethnic tensions in early 1980s and pointed to the sectarian provocation in Kurdestan Province, Sistan-Baluchestan Province and the ethnic Arab population living in southern Iran as examples of the U.S. conspiracy to undermine the central government.