Iran offers mine sweeping assistance to other countries

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced Iran's readiness to share its mine-sweeping experiences and expertise with other countries on humanitarian grounds.Brigadier General Vahidi made the remarks on Sunday in a message on the occasion of International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action which coincides with April 4.He noted that Iran sustained heavy damages during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war due to excessive use of mines and cluster bombs by Saddam's military forces, and said that the Iranian mine-sweeping experts are prepared to provide assistance to other countries in mine-sweeping area.Brigadier General Vahidi said mines and cluster munitions, characterized by failure to discriminate civilians and non-civilians, not only cause extreme pain for the military men but also civilians during war, leaving negative impact on the environment and human communities after the war ends.