By IANS,
Tehran: Iran is ready to take military action in self-defence, Defence Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi has said in response to the US plan that “all options” are open in dealing with Tehran, a media report said Friday.
“We consider all possible defensive options open against the enemies’ threats,” Press TV quoted Vahidi as saying.
Vahidi’s remarks came in response to the statement of US Defence Secretary Robert Gates who said Tuesday Washington was keeping “all options” on the table for dealing with Iran and North Korea.
“If there is a message for Iran and North Korea here, it is that if you’re going to play by the rules, if you’re going to join the international community, then we will undertake certain obligations to you,” Gates said.
“But if you’re not going to play by the rules, if you’re going to be a proliferator, then all options are on the table in terms of how we deal with you,” he told reporters.
Gates comments came as Washington is struggling to build a consensus among the permanent members of the UN Security Council for a fourth round of sanctions against Tehran.