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US resorting to using terrorist groups to achieve own goals: Iran defense chief

 

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami says the United States resorts to every possible means, including using terrorist groups, to achieve its own goals regardless of other countries’ interests.

The US has created chaos in the international system, Hatami said in a meeting with Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC) General Zhang Youxia in the Chinese capital Beijing on Saturday.

He added that breaching international regulations, waging trade wars and ditching international agreements, including the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and the Paris climate deal, are among the measures pursued by the US in violation of global security and order.

The Iranian defense chief pointed to the current complicated situation in the world and said the Middle East has turned into a main center of crisis.

Hatami emphasized that terrorism, extremism and secessionist movements supported by extra-regional powers are intensifying regional crises.

He pointed to joint efforts made by Iran, Russia and the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement to fight terrorist groups in Syria and said China has also played a “very effective” role in supporting the Syrian government.

He added that the ultimate defeat of terrorists in Syria is in the offing.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed cooperation between Tehran and Beijing to promote peace, stability and security.

They underlined the need for the two countries’ armed forces to implement an agreement previously signed on defense-military cooperation and anti-terrorism fight.

In November 2016, the then Iranian defense minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan and his Chinese counterpart General Chang Wanquan signed an agreement in Tehran to boost defense-military cooperation and fight terrorism.

Dehqan said defense-military cooperation between Iran and China helped guarantee regional and international peace and security.

Heading a high-ranking defense delegation, Hatami arrived in Beijing on Thursday.

The Iranian defense minister held talks with Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe on Friday.

The two officials exchanged views about ways to boost defense and military cooperation, joint fight against terrorism and efforts to help establish global peace and stability as well as the latest developments in the Middle East and across the world.

Hatami also visited a number of China’s industrial and military centers.

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