Iran's Defense Minister Responds to U.S. Counterpart: 'Hollow and Worthless'

The Minister of Defense of the Islamic Republic described the statements made by the U.S. Secretary of Defense on Tuesday regarding military options against Iran as 'hollow', 'worthless', 'from a position of passivity', and 'a kind of self-created atmosphere to influence the logical space of Iran's nuclear negotiations with the 5+1 group'. Ashton Carter, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, stated on Tuesday, April 1st, that if negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program do not reach a satisfactory conclusion, military options against Iran will still be on the table. According to the state news agency IRNA, Hossein Dehghan, Iran's Minister of Defense, said on Thursday, April 3rd, 'Such statements from American officials, especially during sensitive and complex nuclear negotiations where the Islamic Republic is determined to dispel baseless accusations, are a kind of self-created atmosphere aimed at influencing the logical space of the negotiations.' Mr. Dehghan regarded the U.S. Secretary of Defense's comments as a confirmation of the Islamic Republic of Iran's 'distrustful view' towards the U.S. and emphasized that these statements have no impact on the 'reasoned, logical, and fair' positions of the Islamic Republic on the nuclear issue. The Iranian Defense Minister also added, 'The Islamic Republic is always ready to confront any hostile threats from aggressors in any situation and will respond decisively in the field.' He remarked that it seems the U.S. Secretary of Defense is 'suffering from Alzheimer's disease' and added, 'If Ashton Carter remembered the past and recent failures of the U.S. in the region and the world, he would refrain from making such empty statements.' In recent years, some U.S. officials have stated that if the Islamic Republic disregards its agreements with the Western side in the nuclear negotiations, the 'military option' remains available to the U.S. In response to these statements, Iranian military officials have repeatedly threatened to retaliate against any military action by the U.S. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps destroyed a model of an American aircraft carrier with hundreds of missiles during a drill named 'Prophet Muhammad 9' in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf in March 2015. Meanwhile, the Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported on Wednesday, April 2nd, referencing a CNN report about 'an Iranian military aircraft passing 45 meters from an armed American helicopter', suggesting that this report likely referred to the IRGC's drill in March of the previous year. This news agency also quoted 'an informed military source' stating that this news was published to 'influence the attack on Yemen and the nuclear negotiations'. This 'informed military source' also mentioned, 'Our capabilities exceed their claims, but there is no need to respond to their atmosphere.' The statements of the Iranian Defense Minister and the release of these news items come as negotiations over Iran's nuclear program continue in Lausanne, Switzerland. According to reports, if the negotiations yield results, Iran and the 5+1 group will issue a 'joint press statement' and continue efforts to reach a final agreement.