US ill-conceived policies root cause of tensions in region
Iranian Foreign Ministry, Bahram Ghasemi, dismissed the head of the US Central Command’s biased and anti-Iran remarks, saying Washington’s wrong policies are the root causes of instability and tensions in the region. He added that the history of US presence in the historical and cultural region is full of irrational and abusive behavior which are the main source of formation of Takfiri terrorism and extremism. Claiming that Iran’s influence is the most significant threat to Middle East security, the Head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) General Joseph Votel told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that Iran “aspires to be a regional hegemon and its forces and proxies oppose US interests in Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Gaza and Syria, and seek to hinder achievement of US objectives in Afghanistan and some Central Asian States”.