In a statement that may defuse the escalating tension in the Persian Gulf since Monday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ruled out the possibility of a war between his country and the U.S. or Israel.
Ahmedinejad's statement comes in the wake of reports that Iran on Tuesday started military maneuvers in the Persian Gulf a day after the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln moved into the Gulf of Oman so its warplanes can fly missions over Afghanistan.
Addressing a news conference on the sidelines of a summit of developing Muslim nations in Malaysia, Ahmadinejad predicted that the Israeli regime would collapse without Iranian action.
"I assure you that there won't be any war in the future," Ahmadinejad told reporters in response to a question on whether he has called for the destruction of Israel.
He said he did not believe that people in America would endorse President George W Bush for an attack on Iran because it would be a "political suicide."
"The economic, political and military situation will not let Mr Bush do that," Ahmadinejad added.
The Iranian leader is of the opinion that the United States' intervention in other countries poses a "great threat in the Middle East and the whole world."
Ali Shirazi, an aide to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying Monday that Iran will hit Israel, U.S. ships in the Gulf, and American interests around the world if it is attacked.
"The first bullet fired by America at Iran will be followed by Iran burning down its vital interests around the globe," Ali Shirazi said, while addressing the Revolutionary Guards.
Although an outbreak of war over the nuclear dispute between Iran and the world powers seems not imminent, the Iranian government frequently says it will remain on high alert and make any aggressor regret its actions.
Any development based on geopolitical factors related to Iran influences the oil price, as the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, is a vital channel for energy supplies. Upto 40 percent of the world's crude oil is carried through the Persian Gulf waterway.
A war of words between Iranian and Israeli officials raised concerns of military confrontation and influenced oil prices to record highs in recent weeks.
Ahmadinajad's latest stand on the war indicates that despite spirited rhetoric from Iranian leaders, Tehran doesn't prefer a military conflict with the United States.
On the other side, Washington is also wary of the repercussions of a possible war, which would drive surging crude prices even higher, fueling a global recession.
Last week, Vice Admiral William Gortney, the new commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet said that the American naval presence in the Persian Gulf poses no threat to Iranian interests.
He told reporters in Bahrain that the White House only seeks to send a "very clear message" that its naval presence will help maintain security and provide stability in the region.
The European Union imposed new sanctions on Iran in June after it rejected a package of incentives offered to persuade the Islamist country to suspend uranium enrichment.
Iran, which insists that uranium enrichment is meant for peaceful purposes, has said it is prepared to negotiate with major world powers on condition that the talks had to address its nuclear rights.
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