Iran Regime Charges U.S. Is Stoking “Iran Phobia”
James Phillips /
Yesterday, Iran’s hardline regime accused the United States of fueling “Iran phobia” by deploying missile defense systems in several Persian Gulf countries that increasingly feel threatened by Iran. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehrmanparast complained that “We regard these (U.S.) measures as a conspiracy and a ploy by foreign countries to create a sense of Iran phobia.” He attacked U.S. officials for spreading fear: “Because they have lost their presence in Iran, they feel they have no foothold and in order to justify their presence (in the region) they make such an insinuation.”
The vitriolic reaction of Iran’s regime came in response to reports that the United States is expanding the missile defense systems it has deployed on land and at sea near Arab gulf states that are increasingly anxious about Iran’s ballistic missile force – the largest in the Middle East. The U.S. is deploying Patriot anti-missile defenses to four of Iran’s neighbors: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. (more…)