Iran 'biggest state sponsor of terrorism': US defence secretary
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US Defence Secretary James Mattis said Saturday that Iran was the world's biggest state sponsor of terrorism, as President Donald Trump slapped fresh sanctions on the country's weapons procurement network.
“As far as Iran goes, this is the single biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the world,” Mattis said at a press conference in Tokyo, but added that the US had no plans to increase troop numbers in the Middle East in response.
“It does no good to ignore it. It does no good to dismiss it and at the same time I don't see any need to increase the number of forces we have in the Middle East at this time,” he said.
“We always have the capability to do so but right now I don't think it's necessary.”
US officials said that the new sanctions, announced on Friday, were in response to Iran's ballistic missile test this week and its support for Houthi rebels in Yemen, who recently targeted a Saudi warship.
The new sanctions do not yet mean that the US has abandoned commitments it made under an earlier deal to lift measures aimed at Iran's nuclear programme, officials said.
But Trump has made no secret of his contempt for that accord, which his predecessor Barack Obama approved in July 2015, and officials said Friday's measures would not be the last against the country.
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Comments (45) Closed
Feb 04, 2017 12:55pm
Hope Iran China friendship pact will soon be signed
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Feb 04, 2017 01:19pm
An American renowned philosopher Noam Chomsky accurately articulates that America is the biggest extremist state in the world. By justifying his narratives, he says America since 1945 have toppled approximately 30 regimes across the world and interfered in 40 governments. It would be better to scrutinize its own errors rather than blaming others.
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Feb 04, 2017 01:20pm
Iran indeed is the core country in modern international relation. Enemies of Muslims & liberal countries planning to pressurize Iran to give up its position. Iran has to beware of these forces. An alliance with Pakistan, China, Afghanistan & Central Asian Republics is what change the entire game & western conspiracies. This has to be realised by all of the region. In this whole affairs Indian role has to be watched closely. They have always played a treacherous role against Muslim countries.
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Feb 04, 2017 01:23pm
Hekmatyar was hero for America against Russia but later the same person was terrorist for American when Hekmatyar oppose occupation of US in Afghanistan. This is their definition of terrorism.
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Feb 04, 2017 01:25pm
US cheated on Iran by making it dismantle the nuclear infrastructure. The former has no credibility.
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Feb 04, 2017 01:27pm
Very convenient to blame others like thieves do.
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Feb 04, 2017 01:27pm
Well the opinion of the world might be different..Apparently USA for the time being is considered the biggest terrorist..Even defies her own constitution..How can you have a war on terrorism when USA becoming itself coming terrorism?..Let us have an opinion poll thru out the world.
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Feb 04, 2017 01:37pm
And what about USA itself? Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria everywhere signs of USA terrorism.
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Feb 04, 2017 01:38pm
US plundered national wealth of many countries around the world. Iran has shown stiff resistance against the US hegemony and valiantly defended its national interests in a region such is an anamoly.
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Feb 04, 2017 01:39pm
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis is 100% right.
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Feb 04, 2017 01:46pm
What is new USA?
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Feb 04, 2017 01:54pm
Iran oil will shortly be controlled by Trump
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Feb 04, 2017 01:53pm
These steps are in fact beneficial for the Iranian government and will increase solidarity of their nation. Later sometimes they will be saying 'thank you' to trump & co.
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Feb 04, 2017 01:52pm
Has everyone in this post forgotten that Iran provides support to India to destabilize Pakistan. Iran has been a naughty boy and it needs to be timed out by the US.
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Feb 04, 2017 01:56pm
Good move.
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Feb 04, 2017 01:57pm
@Arshad
India has always maintained good relations with Iran even during earlier sanction days
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Feb 04, 2017 02:13pm
@DOST mohammad BARRECH True Naom is he greatest asset mankind can think of a man of character and responsibility despite being a very proud Jew.
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Feb 04, 2017 02:13pm
Reminds me of a sign I used to see at a local supermarket, "best meat in the country".
Words are cheap and anyone can claim anything.
Whatever you say, buddy!
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Feb 04, 2017 02:19pm
America is actually the biggest sponsor of terror. Just look at all the countries that have either been topled or attached.
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Feb 04, 2017 02:24pm
@Faisal
Iran is our sincere friend. Iran has good business ties with india why shouldn't Iran has good ties with india. Our brother arab countries UAE give red carpet welcome to Modi and hoisted Indian flag in Burj e Khalifa. No one speaks about it
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Feb 04, 2017 02:44pm
True to the extent that Iran is surely the biggest sponsor of terrorism in muslim countries, americans are correct in saying so. Iran is killing musloms in syria and iraq. Destabilized Yemen and messing up in bahrain. Working with india against pakistan.
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Feb 04, 2017 03:07pm
@Faisal Every country policies are based on national interest. So is Iran. We should persuade them to realize that their interest and the interest of Muslims lies in their relations with Muslim countries. The enemies wants it otherwise. Iran should not forget India has voted against Iran in some crucial international matters.
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Feb 04, 2017 03:02pm
It is the otherway around.
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Feb 04, 2017 03:31pm
Look who is talking The one who dropped Atom Bomb and vanished two cities in few minutes. Killed million of people arround the world. Iran never attacked any country in last two hundred years is called axis of evil.....and the one who killed Millions of people is posing like an angel....
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Feb 04, 2017 04:05pm
And what about the US???They are after Iran as Iran is the only state which is independent in the region .Look at Arab Sheikhs, other Arab states, Pakistan of Nawaz family and Arabia of Saud family and think about it. Americans want complete control of the region without any possibility of any resistance.
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Feb 04, 2017 04:04pm
Sounds like a preview of the things to come.
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Feb 04, 2017 04:17pm
It takes one to know one Sir.
Let me count how many countries the US has terrorized just since WWII ended:
Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Pakistan etc.
And US still remains the only country to use Nuclear bomb against another country - and nearly destroyed the entire Japanese race.
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Feb 04, 2017 04:24pm
How many INNOCENT children, women and men had been brutally killed by USA and its proxies? How many wars USA had started? How many Illegal Drone Attacks USA had conducted? Who is the biggest sponsor of Terrorism ?? USA or Iran??
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Feb 04, 2017 04:28pm
Really.........you are smart guy
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Feb 04, 2017 04:35pm
No the US is by far the biggest state sponsor of terrorism, but then they feel only they are allowed to use such methods whilst others must refrain. Except of course their friends like israel.
Hypocrisy of the highest order, but what else would anyone expect from trump.
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Feb 04, 2017 04:37pm
Just to illustrate who the REAL terrorist is. just two days ago, Trump ordered a Drone attack on Yemen, and personally monitored it from the White House basement - his first aggressive military order.
The result: 26 civilian men, women and children were killed, including 5-year-old daughter of Anwar Al Eyad and US-born Yemeni cleric.
This Defense Secretary at least should have the temerity to admit that. At least the US Centcom and Army has admitted the mishap and are 'investigating' this tragedy.
Before you point fingers at others, please engage in some introspection and look in the mirror. You may not like what is staring back at you.
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Feb 04, 2017 05:00pm
Oh boy...it was always starts with this accussation....
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Feb 04, 2017 05:15pm
Echoes of Saddam Hussain and the 'threat from his (non-existent) WMDs.
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Feb 04, 2017 05:13pm
No wonder he is known as extremist.
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Feb 04, 2017 05:52pm
@jawaid I so agree with you. In Iran many and especially Iran Leader, Khamenei predicted it but President Rouhani was not giving a second taught. I hope he has learnt a lesson. Also USA wants Iran to let go his revolutionary ideas and then will be easy to rule. Last, Iran is making many progress, I hope Pakistan can be closer to neighbor then to USA and Israel
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Feb 04, 2017 06:06pm
US secretary statement is about totally nonsense, rather completely nuisance, because US itself is a biggest state of sponsor of terrorism like Al Qaeda, Taliban, ISIS and other different outfits in the world, which groups are involved in terrorism support by US. Now a days fire flare up in all the Muslim countries, because of US and they want to down the Muslims in the world, in every expect.
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Feb 04, 2017 06:06pm
@Arshad .India has got cordial relationship with all the important muslim countries of the world barring Pakistan. We have a wonderful working relationship with Iran as well..Can you explain what treacherous role India has played against Muslim countries.
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Feb 04, 2017 06:12pm
@Arshad .India has got cordial relationship with all the important muslim countries of the world barring Pakistan. We have a wonderful working relationship with Iran as well..Can you explain what treacherous role India has played against Muslim countries. .No Muslim country barring Pakistan has ever had problems with India. .
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Feb 04, 2017 06:33pm
After Iraq, Libya, Syria, Palestine and counting, I for some strange reason thought that the honour went to US.
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Feb 04, 2017 06:31pm
we know this from long time
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Feb 04, 2017 06:59pm
Your statement about Iran is debatable but no one have any doubt that USA IS terrorist state and responsible for all the problems any where in world.
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Feb 04, 2017 07:12pm
Iran may be a sponsor, USA though is a terrorist nations that carries out war and invades country. Check the facts which nation has killed more people? None more that's US, besides US wasn't created by killions and exterminating millions of Indians from their home land!
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Feb 04, 2017 07:14pm
@DOST mohammad BARRECH. In History we can always see one thing and that is Might is Right. We can see that in Villages and cities of India and Pakistan.
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Feb 05, 2017 08:43am
No Iran is not a biggest state sponsor of terrorism. Love to Iran from your neighbor Pakistan. Beautiful country with a rich history. Land of Cyrus The Great. Love you Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China etc., all our countries lets stand together for a prosperous future friends.
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Feb 06, 2017 08:56am
Trump and his company could end up doing a lot of damage to peace in middle-east
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