Iran voices strong support for Arab states against Israeli aggression

Iranian Defense Minister Admiral Ali Shamkhani stressed that threats against the Arab states by Israel are threats to the national security of Iran. He noted that Iran's military forces are an integrated part of the Islamic world force.

In a statement to the Abu Dhabi daily al-Itihad broadcast today in Tehran Shamkhani added, "Iran will give up support for the Arab nation. It condemns any aggression against these states."

He added, "We have assured our brothers in the region that the Iranian forces will not be used against them. On the contrary, we are ready to defend the interests of the countries of the region if they will be exposed to any risks. We are also ready to deter any aggression targeting any neighboring state." The Iranian Defense Minister warned Tel Aviv against the consequences of launching any aggression against Iran. "If they try we will retaliate and give them an unforgettable lesson," Shamkhani said.

In another development, the Gulf News Agency said that in a statement to the same paper al-Itihad the Iranian defense minister denied that the Israeli pilot whose plane was downed during the 1980s in Lebanon, Ron Arad, is in Tehran.