Iran biggest sponsor of terror: US

Iran biggest sponsor of terror: US

February 05, 2017
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (L) speaks while Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada listens during a joint press conference at the defence ministry in Tokyo on Saturday. — AFP
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (L) speaks while Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada listens during a joint press conference at the defence ministry in Tokyo on Saturday. — AFP

Tokyo — US Defense Secretary James Mattis said Saturday that Iran was the world’s biggest state sponsor of terrorism, as President Donald Trump slapped fresh sanctions on the country’s weapons procurement network.

“As far as Iran goes, this is the single biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the world,” Mattis said at a press conference in Tokyo, but added that the US had no plans to increase troop numbers in the Middle East in response.

“It does no good to ignore it. It does no good to dismiss it and at the same time I don’t see any need to increase the number of forces we have in the Middle East at this time,” he said.

“We always have the capability to do so but right now I don’t think it’s necessary.”

Meanwhile, a Revolutionary Guards commander said Iran would use its missiles if its security is under threat, as the elite force defied new US sanctions on its missile program by holding a military exercise on Saturday.

“We are working day and night to protect Iran’s security,” head of Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace unit, Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

“If we see smallest misstep from the enemies, our roaring missiles will fall on their heads,” he added.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards is holding the military exercise in Semnan province to test missile and radar systems. — Agencies


February 05, 2017
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