Azernews.Az

It is Britain's assistance to the Zionist regime's nuclear weapons program that is "insane" and not Iran's peaceful nuclear program, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said in Tehran on Tuesday, Tehrantimes reported.

Vahidi made the statement in response to the remarks of British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond, who, in an interview with the Observer on Sunday, said that the international community must tighten the noose on Iran over its "mad" nuclear plans to the point where the Iranian government's survival is threatened by its own people.

The Iranian defense minister stated, "Are the measures of the British government, which has over 200 strategic nuclear warheads and over 64 strategic launchers, insane or Iran's exclusively peaceful nuclear activities?

"Britain itself was the third country that tested nuclear weapons and has 2.3 million cubic meters of nuclear waste and is pursuing a comprehensive plan to develop new nuclear weapons that costs billions.

"Is it Iran's totally peaceful nuclear plans that is insane or Britain's clandestine assistance, in contravention of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to provide the criminal and occupying regime of the Zionist regime, which is currently regarded as a serious threat to regional and world peace and security due to its possession of over tens of nuclear warheads, with (the means to manufacture) nuclear weapons?

"The British defense secretary unmasked himself with such insane remarks and revealed that their allegations about Iran's nuclear program are only a pretext.

"The purpose they pursue through such comments, by their own admission, is the imposition of pressure, pain, and suffering on the free-thinking and great nation of Iran.

"Those remarks also illustrate the hegemonistic and anti-humanitarian nature of Britain's rulers.

"Such remarks will produce no result except an increase of the Iranian nation's hatred for Britain's rulers and an increase in their unity and cohesion to oppose the hegemonistic objectives of the global arrogance (forces of imperialism) and (Iranians) taking great steps toward full independence and self-sufficiency in all areas.

"It would be better if the British defense secretary considers alleviating the pain and suffering of the British people, particularly the independence-seeking people of Northern Ireland and ending the occupation of the islands that belong to others instead of making such crude remarks."

Iran will not relinquish its nuclear rights: Mehmanparast

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Monday that the British defense secretary's remarks illustrate Britain's ire arising from its failure to hinder Iran's progress.

Such remarks indicate British officials' disregard for international mechanisms and the rights of countries that have been enumerated in the NPT, he stated.

Mehmanparast added, "Our country's government and people have proved that they will not stop pursuing the path toward the exercise of their inalienable rights under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and based on the national demand and interests and will not succumb to these pressures."