Article Posted on : - May 01, 2012

F-22 Raptor. An USAF photo.

TEHRAN (AP): Iran's semiofficial Isna news agency is quoting the country's defence minister as saying deployment of American stealth fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates will damage regional security.

Gen Ahmad Vahidi's comments Monday were the first official reaction to media reports of the recent deployment by the US military of F-22 Raptors to the UAE's Al Dafra Air Base. The base has long hosted US warplanes.

Vahidi said Iran considers the deployment "psychological warfare."

The deployment was first reported by the journal, Aviation Week.

Tehran and Washington are at odds over Iran's nuclear programme. The US and its allies worry Iran is seeking nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.

The US and Israel have not ruled out military action against Iranian facilities.