Tehran, July 12: After the Emirati ambassador to Washington endorsed the use of military option against Tehran, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi says the remarks originated from Israeli conspiracies.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Vahidi cautioned certain countries against adopting policies that could harm their national interests.
“These countries should exercise caution that US and Israeli spy agencies do not influence their diplomats,” the Iranian minister said.
The comment came after The Washington Times quoted Emirati Ambassador to the US Yousef al-Otaiba as saying on Tuesday that while a military attack on Iran would have short-term costs, its long-term benefits outweigh its harmful effects.
Al-Otaiba further pointed out that it was impossible to “live with a nuclear Iran.”
The remarks come while the Islamic Republic has repeatedly assured that its nuclear program in within the guidelines of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, reaffirming that the program poses no threat to its neighbors.
Meanwhile, Vahidi went on to slam the Emirati official for his lack of judgment, saying that such officials do not take their own national interests into consideration, IRNA reported on Sunday.
“Regional countries should be careful not to make comments or adopt stances that are more foolish than remarks made by Israeli officials,” the Iranian minister stressed.
Following al-Otaiba’s provocative remarks, the UAE deputy foreign minister Tareq al-Haidan dismissed the report as inaccurate, saying the ambassador’s remarks had been “taken out of context.”
———Agencies