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Last update - 18:37 29/07/2008 Iranian official: Hezbollah swap a victory for the Muslim world By Haaretz Service Tags: Hezbollah, Israel, Iran  Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has said that Israel absorbed a "political blow of death" during the Second Lebanon War, Army Radio reported on Tuesday. Larijani told a Tehran conference that the recent prisoner swap between Israel and Hezbollah was a victory not just for the Lebanon-based militant group but for the entire Muslim world. "The prisoner swap was an historic loss for Israel and a giant victory for Lebanon and the Muslim world," he said. Advertisement The comments come a few weeks after Israel and Hezbollah carried out a deal that saw the bodies of two Israel Defense Forces reservists captured just before the 2006 war returned to Israel. In exchange for the remains of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, Israel released five Lebanese terrorists along with the bodies of nearly 200 enemy dead. Iran and the West have been engaged of late in a battle of threats over Tehran's nuclear program. Tehran claims it is enriching uranium to produce atomic energy, while the West believes it is developing nuclear weapons. U.S. Admiral Michael Mullen said earlier this month that the Iranian regime remains "a destabilizing factor in the area," but in his view the preferred way of resolving the issue lies in international diplomacy and not the use of military force. Still, another admiral, James Winnefeld, has warned that Iran is likely to launch ballistic missiles against Israel and the United States and the NATO alliance should prepare for it. The deputy to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said last week that Iran was a friend of Israel, Iranian news agencies reported. The comment came just after some Iranian officials warned that Tehran's long-range missiles could target Tel Aviv if the U.S. and Israel realized their threats to attack Iran's nuclear sites. "Iran wants no war with any country, and today Iran is friend of the United States and even Israel.... Our achievements belong to the whole world and should be used for expanding love and peace," said Iranian Vice President Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, who is also head of the Cultural Heritage Organization. The Cultural Heritage Organization news agency quoted him as saying that even during the eight-year war against Iraq, Iran just defended itself against the military invasion by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Ahmadinejad has himself caused international uproar with his anti-Israel tirades, voicing hope for the eradication of Israel from the Middle East, demanding its relocation to Europe or Alaska and doubting the historic dimension of the Holocaust during World War II. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Internal fighting Human rights groups say torture is widespread in Palestinian lockups. Danger looms Pentagon chief Robert Gates warns: War with Iran would be 'disastrous.'   1.   MERT HAS BEEN DOING NOTHING BUT GIVING POLITICAL BLOWS SINCE 18:07  |  glenna 29/07/08   2.   VERY VERY SOON YOU WILL GET THE MOST RIGHTWING GOVERNMENT IN 18:43  |  WARRIOR 29/07/08   3.   Larijani wants to upstage Ahmedinejad! 19:03  |  Cy 29/07/08   4.   Reports of Israel`s death, again, have been greatly exagerrated 19:57  |  JP 29/07/08   5.   Arab victories! 20:24  |  utagawa 29/07/08   6.   Behind Hezbollah`s deeds is the fine hand of Iran. 20:30  |  Jean Van Daem 29/07/08   7.   Amazing on what fantasies the Iranians and Hezbollah are feeding! 20:37  |  S 29/07/08   8.   #5 Arab Victories 21:37  |  Steve 29/07/08   9.   Pathetic Gift from Israel 22:27  |  Fred McCann 29/07/08   10.   Warrior - Let the liquidation begin 00:01  |  German Right-winger 30/07/08   11.   What about 2006 09:31  |  Sabir 30/07/08

Read & React Abbas vows to dismantle PA if Israel frees Hamas prisoners for Shalit Responses: 42 Palestinian boy, 9, killed during protest at West Bank fence Responses: 130 Haaretz TV: Hamas summer camp teaches Gaza kids to hate and kill Responses: 7 Barak: U.S. to provide Israel with defense systems against Iran strike Responses: 11 Rosner's Domain Lieberman seen as good veep choice (WTR) What American Jews believe (WTR) Barack Obama, the fashionable darling of the Israeli left The Lebanese are undercutting goodwill in Washington (WTR) More Headlines 09:24 Abbas vows to dismantle PA if Israel frees Hamas prisoners for Shalit 10:06 Mofaz: No talks on core issues while coalition is on verge of collapse 09:08 Barak: U.S. to provide Israel with defense systems against Iran strike 10:01 VIDEO / Hamas summer camp teaches Gaza kids to hate, kill 07:14 ANALYSIS: Israeli security forces losing control in the West Bank 10:03 Maccabi Haifa signs the 'Jewish Jordan' for next season 08:56 U.S. says settlements are 'problem' as Israel-PA talks shift to Washington 07:39 Spat between Olmert and Barak keeps ratcheting up 06:21 Huge blast rocks Hamas training base wounding at least five 23:14 Olmert: Syria must choose between peace and isolation 21:18 Jewish World / Parents get the Birthright experience 07:41 Fayyad appeals for World Bank aid to pay PA public sector wages 10:07 IDF officer in shooting probe linked to other Palestinian abuse case 10:09 Police pressure suspect in Bat Yam shooting to incriminate crime boss Previous Editions Select Day 29 jul 28 jul 27 jul 25 jul 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul

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