Iran warns UAE against being used as US anti-Iran base

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini yesterday said that UAE officials should not let the US use their country as a base for hostile activities against Iran.

Speaking to domestic and foreign reporters at this week's press briefing, he said, in response to a question about Iran's security model for Iraq, that Iran does not set a security model for Iraq.

The spokesman added that the Iraqi nation and government rather have sufficient capacity to arrange such affairs themselves. "If we are ever asked o cooperate in this respect, we will do our best to assist them," he added.

Turning to the close relations between the two nations, he said that the issue will be discussed at length during today's visit of President Jalal Talabani to Iran.

Concerning suspension of Iran's football federation by FIFA, he said that President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad is intent on solving the issue and will pursue it through various institutions.

Replying to another question about the claim of US Ambassador to UN John Bolton concerning attempts of Iran and Syria to launch a coup in Lebanon, he said, "What mainly accounts for the insecurity in Lebanon, Iraq and the entire region is the presence of foreign troops and their interference." He pointed to US support for Israel during the 33-day war launched by Israel against Lebanon, and said that while Iran and Syria attempted to achieve cease-fire and stop Israel's aggressions, the US did not take any incentive to this end.

"We believe that the Lebanese nation and various factions have the capacity to administer the country's internal affairs. Therefore, they do not need the assistance of others .. Those responsible for the assassination of the Lebanese minister of industries are not concerned about the benefits of the nation," said Hosseini.