How can Iran defend itself against possible US aggression

Iran must maintain its allies in the Middle East and retain its capacity to retaliate against US allies to defend itself against possible US aggression, an American writer and retired professor says. 

James Petras, who has written dozens of books on international issues, made the remarks in an interview with Press TV on Tuesday while commenting on US Vice President Mike Pence’s war threats against North Korea.

Pence on Monday warned that North Korea could end up like Libya if Kim Jong-un does not cooperate with the United Sates and give up nuclear weapons.

"You know, there was some talk of the Libyan model last week. And as the president made clear, this will only end like the Libyan model ended if Kim Jong-un doesn't make a deal," Pence said on Monday in an interview with Fox News.

"It would be a great mistake for Kim Kim Jong-un to think he could play Donald Trump," Pence said, adding that Trump would walk away from the talks if they prove unproductive.  

"But we hope for better. We really hope that Kim Kim Jong-un will seize the opportunity to dismantle his nuclear weapons program, and do so by peaceable means," he said.

PressTV-Pence warns North Korea could end up like Libya

The US vice president has warned that North Korea could end up like Libya if Kim Jong-un refuses to cooperate with the United Sates in giving up its nuclear weapons.

“Libya was an example of US promise breaking. Having signed a disarmament agreement with Libya in 2003, by 2011 the US invaded and bombed Libya, ending up with the assassination of its president, Muammar Gaddafi” Professor Petras said, referring to the former leader Libyan leader. 

“Anyone who believes that Libya was a case of successful agreement with the United States needs to have their head examined, because anyone that takes the path of disarming and trusting the US to honor its peaceful intentions is absolutely wrong,” he added.

On Sunday, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said that the United States was looking at using the so-called “Libya model” as a way of forcing Pyongyang to surrender its nuclear weapons.

The model Bolton was referring to was Gaddafi’s agreement in December 2003 to surrender Libya’s nuclear weapons program, which included allowing uranium centrifuges to be shipped out to the US.

PressTV-Iran too powerful now to be pressured: Senior official

A senior official says Iran is more powerful than any time and cannot be easily pressured in the face of US plans to reimpose sanctions on the country. 

Professor Petras said, “Iranians must be acutely aware that they need to maintain their allies in the Middle East and to retain their capacity to retaliate to US allies, notably Saudi Arabia and Israel, who are in very much favor of war and invasion of Iran.”

“I think the question is whether Iran will have the agreement with the Europeans. And the question there is largely resolved by how the Europeans, particularly France, England and Germany respond to the sanctions policy," the analyst noted. 

“Washington’s sanctions policy will be directed at undermining European ties with Iran, forcing Iran to rely on its closet trading partners, namely China, Russia and perhaps some of the Middle Eastern or Asian allies,” he concluded.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk