Tel Aviv decides for Washington

On Thursday, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said Iran is “right at the top” of the Bush administration’s list of world trouble spots, and said that Israel “might well decide to act first” to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“The statements by Cheney and the Zionist officials are two faces of a coin and this confirms the view by the Islamic Republic that Tel Aviv and the Zionist lobby in the U.S. determine the policies of Washington and this is not surprising for us,” Asefi told reporters.

Asefi added that if one day Washington decides to find a good reputation in the world it has no choice but to try very hard to get itself rid of the Zionist influence.

The spokesman said the U.S. administration has replaced logic with bullying in its dealings with the world and expressed hope that George W. Bush would take a logical approach in his second term as president.

Asefi also said Iran is powerful enough to defend itself in the face of any attack by Israel.

"The Islamic republic is strong enough and has the capability to defend itself,” he asserted.

MS/MS

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MNA