Iran blasts Israel's new ministry targeting its nuclear issue

Iran's parliament chief on Wednesday criticized the latest decision of the Israeli government to create a new ministry that deals mainly with Tehran's nuclear issue, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"This move of the Zionist regime has no value and meaning, " Gholam Ali Haddad Adel was quoted as saying when asked to comment on the Israeli cabinet's Sunday decision to set up the ministry for strategic affairs.

Israeli media reported that the ministry would be responsible " for coordination between the different bodies regarding the different strategic threats Israel is facing," most notably Iran's nuclear program.

The decision still requires the approval of the Israeli parliament, where the government has a broad-based coalition.

Furthermore, Adel also accused Israel of acting against any event that would display Iran's power, according to the IRNA report.

"Even before the Zionist regime created this ministry, it clearly wanted to slow down the pace of Iran's progress," Adel said.

He reiterated that Iran would continue down the road to achieving peaceful nuclear energy, dismissing increasing U.S. and European pressures.

Iran was determined to take the final step to nuclear victory and fulfill the nation's aspiration of gaining access to peaceful nuclear energy, Adel said.

The United States and Israel have voiced their suspicion that Tehran might be developing a nuclear-weapon program under the guise of a civilian-use program.

Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and voiced hope for talks on the nuclear standoff. But the Islamic republic rejected a prerequisite of suspending nuclear work for such talks.