TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham rejected the US officials' claims that Iran's military progress and missile program is a threat to the neighbors, and said strengthening ties and mutual trust with the neighboring states sets the government's priority.Frank Rose, the US deputy assistant secretary of state for space and defense policy, claimed in Abu Dhabi on Sunday that Washington was "acutely" aware of the Persian Gulf Arab states' anxieties about Iran and wanted to help them launch a Persian Gulf-wide co-ordinated missile defense capability.
"Such remarks are made to deviate the public opinion from a spectrum of the US mistakes, threats and double-standard behaviors in the region," Afkham told reporters in Tehran on Tuesday.
She underlined that the US officials who have waged two big wars with a large number human casualties in the region dont have any legitimacy to speak about such issues.
Afkham described consolidation of relations and mutual trust with neighbors as Iran's priority, and said, "Our neighbors also understand the importance of good neighborliness and the necessity for constructive cooperation well."
"Iran's military and missile progress is no threat to the neighbors and the region, and our defensive strategy is aimed at guaranteeing peace, security and stability of the region," she added.
In relevant remarks in October, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei underscored Iran's policy of peaceful coexistence with the world nations, and said Iran poses no threat to any world country, but it will give a crushing response to any possible aggressor.
"The Iranian nation is never a threat to any country, but it considers the strength and power of the Armed Forces as the most important component for safeguarding the security of the Islamic Republic," Ayatollah Khamenei said, addressing a graduation ceremony of Army cadets in Tehran.
"The Armed Forces, including the Army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Basij (volunteer forces) and the Law Enforcement Police should be a strengthened wall against enemies' plots," he added.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the enemies' repeated and disgusting threats against Iran, and said, "All those who are used to posing verbal threats to Iran should know that our response to any kind of mischief against the Iranian nation will be serious and hard."
In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector, specially missile program, and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.
Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes.
Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.
By Fars News Agency
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