British Anti-Iran Rhetoric Aimed at Selling Weapons

A lawmaker denounced as unfounded the Wednesday statements by British Prime Minister Theresa May that accused Iran of "aggressive regional actions", as they are meant to encourage the Persian Gulf Arab states to buy more British weapons.

Mohammad Javad Jamali also told ICANA on Saturday that such Iranophobic remarks are in line with the regional policies of USA, which on Thursday finalized the sale of about $7 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.

The British government, meanwhile, has signed a deal worth $4.1 billion for exporting weapons to Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at a session of the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council in Bahrain on Wednesday, May described Tehran as an state actor "whose influence fuels instability in the region", adding that "we should work together to push back against Iran's aggressive regional actions, whether in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Syria or in the [Persian] Gulf itself."

"I want to assure you that I am clear-eyed about the threat that Iran poses to the [Persian] Gulf and the wider Middle East, and the UK is fully committed to our strategic partnership with the [Persian] Gulf and working with you to counter that threat," Britain's prime minister said.

Jamali described Britain as a former colonial empire controlling large parts of West Asia that has "a black record" in sowing discord among Persian Gulf Arab states, by creating territorial disputes.

"A government that has caused differences in the region cannot be a well-wisher of its people," said Jamali.

"Regional states should know that Iran has not attacked a single country in the past hundreds of years and has only defended its soil against aggressors. They should welcome Iran's goodwill [gestures] and believe that we can be good friends for each other."

Jamali noted that in view of its high capacities, Iran can be an anchor of Muslim brothers.