Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani claimed that regional states have more to fear from Israel than Iran’s nuclear program. PHOTO: Fars News.

The Chairman of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, dismissed Arab states’ fears over Iran’s nuclear program, saying they should feel “deep fright of Israel’s atomic arsenal” instead, semi-official state news agency Fars reported on Sunday.

“Of course, Saudi Arabia and possibly other regional states are making a mistake and they shouldn’t be fearful of us,” said Rafsanjani in an interview with al-Wefaq newspaper on Sunday.

“We have forbidden the nuclear bomb,” he added, “why should they be afraid of us?” referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s alleged fatwa forbidding the development of nuclear weapons.

Rafsanjani addressed Saudi Arabia’s recent purchase of advanced weapons, included missiles with a 3,000 km range, advanced fighter jets, including F-15s, radars and other arms, as well as the establishment of U.S. bases in the Kingdom.

“Saudi Arabia knows that Iran is no threat,” he claimed.

The Expediency Council, currently chaired by Rafsanjani, is charged with resolving differences between the Iranian Parliament and Guardian Council, and it also acts in an advisory role to the Supreme Leader.