Ham-Shahri: Iran: American intervention is behind insecurity in ME

Iran's Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said his country has always sought to achieve security and stability in the Middle East through constructive relations with states of the region.

In an interview published Wednesday by Iranian newspaper Ham-Shahri, Shamkhani said the U.S., through its unilateral policy, made Iraq the center of crisis in the region, adding that the American intervention is the reason behind instability in the Mideast.

He also underscored the necessity of cooperation among states of the region to prevent the use of their lands as a launching pad against others.

He also pointed out that Iran adopted a policy of cooperation and confidence building with the neighboring countries at a time these countries are targeted by the US plan, the Greater Middle East project.