TEHRAN The U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan still continue after the country experienced another day of increased fatalities on Monday. Many analysts believe that the United States' next move will be to secure its presence in the region (the Middle East and Central Asia). It will establish military bases in the countries over which it has had no influence or control for some time.

Mussa Qorbani, an MP from Qaen, told the TEHRAN TIMES that "It's been a long time since the United States lost its bases in the region." Among the strongholds he listed were those in Iran when the deposed Shah was in power, and in Afghanistan during Zahir Shah's reign. He also mentioned that by the time there was a popular government in Pakistan, the U.S. did not have much of a role to play in the national arena. He was apparently referring to the governments before General Pervez Musharraf's 1999 coup.

"Washington is trying to create a foothold in the region and is now sticking to its supposed sanctioned and humanitarian excuses such as a war against terrorism and protecting the Afghan people from Taleban atrocities.

"This is a golden opportunity for the U.S. to establish its bases in the region, it is going so far as to use the resources of other countries. It is instigating a campaign against terrorism, and other countries will be obliged to participate in this so-called war," he said

According to the MP, one of the United States' main goals in entering the region is to be in close proximity to Iran. This would allow the U.S. intelligence agency (CIA) to investigate the amount of movement across the Iran-Afghanistan border.

Qorbani then said that it would be in the United States' best interests to keep this war short, since in a ground war, the fierce Afghans would certainly defeat their infantry, to say nothing of the problems the U.S. forces would face in winter when battling the elements.

The MP praised the foreign policy adopted by Iran. He said that it condemns any form of oppression, whether it be a "blind" attack on Americans or a "retaliatory blind" assault on Afghan civilians.

In defining its position, Iran followed its slogan of dignity, expediency and wisdom, he said.

Qorbani rejected reports of the animosity that exists between Iranians and Afghans, "Even if it does, it does not imply that Iranians do not sympathize with the oppressed people in Afghanistan who are being massacred."

Paradoxically, some reports have said that the same Iranians who used to blame Afghans for an ailing economy and accuse them of savagery, are now sympathizing with them.

In an interview with the TEHRAN TIMES, Nasser Ghavami, a Majlis deputy from Qazvin Province, said that the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. were condemned by all governments throughout the world. He added that the U.S. attack on Afghanistan is not meant to fight terrorism but that it is, in fact, a war against a Muslim country. However, U.S. officials should know that the Afghan nation will not submit so easily.

Ghavami also said that the U.S. may be seeking two objectives in Afghanistan. The first objective is to show its power to the world, although the U.S. should consider the fact that it is much more powerful than Afghanistan, so this war has no military value. He said that the second objective of the U.S. may be to establish a puppet government in Afghanistan, but they should again know that the people of Afghanistan will not tolerate a foreign power imposing a government on them.

When asked about the future scenario, he said that the U.S. does no intend to arrest Bin Laden and that if it wanted to, it could easily do it with the help of its intelligence agents all over the country. Ghavami said that the Iranian nation and government support the innocent people of Afghanistan but are against the ruling Taleban militia in that country, adding that four million Afghans came to Iran during the war between the Soviet Union and Afghanistan and they are working here.

Speaking to the TEHRAN TIMES, an expert on regional issues said that U.S. adventurism in the region is out of control and in fact the U.S. is running a great risk.

Nader Talebzadeh said that the U.S. is using the pretext of fighting terrorism to settle the so-called Middle East peace process. In fact, the attacks have their roots in the Palestinian issue, he added.

The U.S. seeks to strengthen its presence in the region and establish a military base near Iran, which is an important regional country, he said.

Talebzadeh, a director of overseas TV programs, added that the September 11 attacks were part of a conspiracy to facilitate U.S. justification of its military actions in Afghanistan and the region.

Since the incident, Israel has taken the opportunity to increase its repression of Palestinians.

The U.S. was aware of the fact that its military reaction would enrage people throughout the world, but it knowingly took the risk as part of its strategy of risk to achieve a greater goal, he said, adding that Washington's final goal is suppressing the regional countries which support the Palestinian cause.

Talebzadeh noted that the Taleban was created by the U.S. and Britain to challenge Islamic movements, but their mischief backfired.

The U.S. dream to be the master and leader of the world would never come true, he said, underlining that the childish and satanic policies of U.S. politicians have even become a great problem for U.S. citizens.

He said that Iran had adopted wise and significant positions in regard to recent events and in its support for the innocent people of Afghanistan.

Abolfazle Shakoori, the vice president of the Majlis National Security Commission, also told the TEHRAN TIMES that the real objective of the U.S. is to establish military bases in Central Asia in order to pave the way for the exploitation of its oil and gas resources and that the U.S. plot would not end with the arrest of Bin Laden and the overthrow of the Taleban.

He added that the U.S attacks on Afghanistan are part of a long-term strategy which intends to geopolitically threaten China, India and Russia, and which also intends to enable them to control Iran via northern Iraq, Turkey and Afghanistan.

Shakoori, a Majlis deputy from Zanjan, said that Iran's position on the recent attacks on the United States is rational and balanced.

He added that Iran is calling for the implementation of international law and rejects military action. Mr. Shakoori said that some of the foreign media are trying to cause discord between the Iranian and Afghan nations by claiming that the official Iranian position is not identical with the feelings of the Iranian nation, although the Iranian people held demonstrations on Friday showing that they are with the Afghan people.

He concluded that Iran, while condemning the recent attacks on the United States, at the same time condemns the U.S war against Afghanistan as well.