'Iran ready to develop security co-op with neighbors'

TEHRAN, May 9 (MNA) – Iran is ready to develop security-defense cooperation with neighboring and friendly countries, Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said on Sunday.

Vahidi made the remarks in response to a decision by Iraq to establish a joint security system with Iran.

He said Tehran is also ready to cooperate with such countries in other areas, including political, economic, and cultural spheres.

U.S. troops should leave the region

Vahidi also said that there is no excuse for U.S. troops to remain in the region as Washington has claimed that Osama bin Laden, the ringleader of Al Qaeda, had been killed.

The U.S. and certain other countries sent their military troops to the region about 9 years ago under the pretext of fighting Al Qaeda group and terrorism, he explained.

However, since then terrorism has spread across the region, he added.

He went on to say, “We should wait and see what new justification the U.S. and its allies will invent for remaining in the region.”

In addition, regional countries, including those where the U.S. military forces are stationed, want the foreign military forces to leave the region, he stated.

Certain regional nations have made their demands clear and those which have not said anything in this regard also seek a withdrawal of U.S. forces from their lands, he noted.

Nonetheless, Washington itself has come to this conclusion that there is no way but only to pull out its forces from the region, Vahidi said, adding this is clear from American officials’ remarks.