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Tehran warns US off setting up military base near Iranian borders

(With photos) TEHRAN, Sept 12 (KUNA) -- A senior Iranian official warned the US on Wednesday against establishing a military base near his country's borders with Iraq.
"If they approach our borders, they will be within reach of our fire, which is not for their good," Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, told a press conference.
Larijani's was commenting on the Petraeus-Crocker assessment to the US Congress, namely regarding Washington's intention to build a military base near Iran's borders.
Neither the Iraqi people nor the government will allow the US troops to remain in their country, Larijani said noting that what really counted was the Iraqi government which said it would not permit such a base to be set up near the Iranian borders, Larijani said.
He noted that the recent report released by the US Ambassador in Baghdad Ryan Crocker and Commander of US troops in Iraq General David Petreaus was full of contradictions and lies.
Larijani said that the scenario was well-designed and orchestrated but the Americans should know that after a while they should be accountable to the Iraqi people, he said adding that the report not only fell short of demonstrating Iraq's real image but depicted a dramatic image of the war-shattered country as well, he said.
"Iran supplies Iraq with drinking water and electricity but what have you brought for the Iraqi people?" he questioned.
"You play a key role in causing sectarian rifts among the Iraqi people," he said. (end) mw.msa KUNA 122032 Sep 07NNNN