Teheran, Islamabad get closer over threats

TEHERAN - The Iranian and Pakistani defense ministers held talks on defense cooperation amid US President Donald Trump's recent Twitter spree against both nations, Iranian PressTV reported on Friday.

Brigadier General Ali HatamiBrigadier General Ali Hatami hailed growing defense cooperation between Teheran and Islamabad in a telephone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Khurram Dastgir-Khan on Thursday.

The latest developments in the region and in the Islamic world necessitate more interactions among officials of Iran and Pakistan, two major countries in the Muslim world, Hatami was quoted as saying.

"The Americans always blame others for their own failures in different parts of the world," Hatami said.

The "evil and stupid policies of the United States" are the root cause of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the deaths of innocent civilians in Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq and Syria, he said.

The two countries should utilize their economic growth and security, Hatami said, pointing to the potential for military cooperation between Iran and Pakistan.

The Pakistani defense minister welcomed the promotion of military cooperation with Iran with regard to regional issues, saying the two countries should further enhance such cooperation given the rapid pace of regional developments.

Dastgir-Khan also criticized Trump's repeated tweets against Pakistan and underlined the importance of Muslim nations' sovereign right to their own security.

Trump posted a series of tweets in recent days, in which he voiced support for the protests in Iran and lashed out at Pakistan, accusing it of supporting terrorists.

The US said on Thursday that it was suspending at least $900 million in security assistance to Pakistan. Later a senior Pakistani senator expressed disappointment, adding that although Islamabad can manage without the US, as it did in the 1990s, it would prefer to move the troubled relationship forward.

US 'looking for reasons'

On Friday, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Washington is "looking for reasons" to pressure Iran on its nuclear program.

Ryabkov was responding to US Vice-President Mike Pence who this week said Washington will "not remain silent on Iran" and called for a replacement to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement.

"If (the US) is looking for reasons to increase pressure on Iran that have nothing to do with the (nuclear) deal, and that's what it looks like from what we see, then this is an unworthy method that should not be used by a great power," Ryabkov said.

The 2015 Iran deal gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

Xinhua - AFP - AP