September 29, 2010 - 18:07 AMT
U.S. trying to spread Iranophobia among regional nations, Iranian Parliament Speaker believes

Iranian Parliament Speaker has lashed out at the US and its policies in the region, saying the United States is trying to spread Iranophobia among regional nations.

"Iran is clearly not after nuclear weapons and continues to pursue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but the US has engaged in a policy of sowing Iranophobia amongst countries of the region," IRNA quoted Ali Larijani as saying on Tuesday.

The Iranian official, moreover, insisted on the country's firm stance against Israeli expansionism and highlighted the new deterrence capabilities of Iran's long-range missiles.

"We will always defend the oppressed people and if Israel intends to interfere in regional countries, we will move to resist it since Iran enjoys peaceful coexistence with countries of the region and does not even have any hostility with the Europeans," the speaker added.

He went on to say that the US seeks to prevent Iran from making progress, adding, "Both the IAEA and certain intelligence units of the US know that Iran has no atomic weapons but they argue that Iran has acquired the know-how that can lead to construction of atomic weapons."

"This is an incorrect logic. This is ridiculous," Larijani went on to say.

He warned the US against the adverse consequences of its policy of creating chaos in the region and said, "Iran and other important countries in the region should remain alert and not fall into the US trap," presstv.com cited him as saying.