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WORLD / Middle East
Iran to use 'all means' to defend itself
(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-09-19 23:12
TEHRAN - Iran said on Wednesday it would use "all our means" to defend
itself if attacked by the West, three days after France's foreign
minister publicly raised the possibility of war over Tehran's disputed
nuclear activities.
When asked whether Iran would block the Hormuz Strait, the world's most
important water way for oil shipments, if attacked, government spokesman
Gholamhossein Elham dismissed it as "far-fetched" that anybody would take
"this foolish option."
But, "we would use all our means to defend ourselves because territorial
integrity is a key issue for every country," he told a news conference.
He did not elaborate. Iran has previously threatened to hit US regional
interests if the United States launches a military strike against the
Islamic Republic.
The world's fourth-largest crude producer, which rejects Western
accusations it is seeking to develop nuclear bombs, has also said it will
not rule out using oil as a weapon if attacked.
Analysts fear Iran could seek to impede traffic through the Strait of
Hormuz in any retaliation by threatening merchant shipping. US naval
chiefs are concerned that Iran could resort to mining the strait and the
wider Gulf in a major conflict.
The strategic sea channel which shares Iran's coastline at the entrance
to the Gulf is a choke point because of the huge volume of oil exported
through it daily.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday comments by French
government officials talking about the possibility of war over Iran's
nuclear programme were intended for the media and should not be taken
seriously.
Western nations fear Iran is seeking to build atomic bombs despite
Tehran's denials. The United States insists it wants diplomacy to end the
row but has not ruled out military action should such a route fail.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Monday everything must be
done to avoid war with Iran, a day after Foreign Minister Bernard
Kouchner said Paris should prepare for that possibility though he did not
think any war was imminent.
Kouchner's comments prompted major powers including the United States to
say they believed the nuclear standoff could be resolved diplomatically.
French Defence Minister Herve Morin said on Wednesday France had no plan
to attack Iran.
"No one can think for one instant that we are imagining and preparing
plans against Iran," he told Canal Plus television.
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