'Manas will not be directed against Iran'

Iranian ambassador in Kyrgyzstan Manouchehr Moradi is sure that the Kyrgyz top leadership will not allow U.S. to use its legal territory, on which the Manas transit transportation center is located, for military actions against Iran. Iranian embassy's press-service in Bishkek quotes the the Iranian diplomatic mission head on Wednesday.

"The territory of the Manas transit transportation center belongs to Kyrgyzstan," he said. "We are sure that the Kyrgyz government, as an independent state, will not allow any other state to use this land in a war against the third country. After 20 years of fruitful and close cooperation between Iran and Kyrgyzstan, our friendly nations will not let the events to develop in this direction."

The Iranian leadership welcomes the president Atambayev's decision on the withdrawal of U.S. military base by 2014, Moradi added.

"I think that the president's statements reflect the idea of Kyrgyz nation," he said. "This is a general demand, rather than the voice of one person. Of course, this is purely an internal affair of Kyrgyzstan. Iran has no right to interfere, but we hope that the issue will be resolved once and for all."

The Iranian ambassador also said that military actions are unlikely to be launched between Iran and the US.

"The U.S. is not in condition to start a war, taking into account the large number of internal problems and bitter experience in Iraq and Afghanistan," he added.

"We have repeatedly stated that Iran will not first start a war with anyone, but, of course, for our protection, we will use all available forces. History itself will judge the relations between nations and show who is our friend or enemy," Moradi added.


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