Larijani: US proposed missile shield aims to take gulf states' wealth

The Iranian Supreme Leader's representative to the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani said yesterday that the US has raised the idea of setting up a missile shield in the Persian Gulf in order to plunger the Arab Gulf states' wealth.

Larijani told a group of students, "They (Americans) want to take away the Persian Gulf states' oil and gas and give them arms instead. They also want to set up their bases there." He said the US says will remain in Iraq, which proves they seek domination over the region. He added that Americans' intention and false claims have become evident to whole nations of the region.

Larijani said recent US intelligence report is in contrast with the its 2005 report. "This means that a country which once put international peace at stake and paved the way for referral of Iran's case to the Security Council, now confesses that the reports had been wrong."

"A part of the NIE report alleging that Iran had stopped working on nuclear weapons since 2003 is another false claim because based on deal Iran signed with the IAEA, all its facilities have been inspected," he added.

Larijani said Monday that if the Americans change their approach if they do not look for trouble in the region, one can define common interests with them.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said here Saturday that Iran is ready to help US wise statesmen if they make rational decision on the basis of the correct part of the US intelligence (NIE) report.

The top diplomat said the US intelligence community's report is in line with the IAEA work and, "We think the countries involved in the nuclear case have been convinced that a positive atmosphere has been created which should be used."