Where they stand on Iraq: Iran

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VIDEO CNN's Paula Zahn reports that despite difficult relations, Iran and the U.S share a common goal: getting rid of Saddam. (December 18) PLAY VIDEO SPECIAL REPORT •  War Tracker •  On the Scene Map •  Commanders: U.S. | Iraq •  Weapons: 3D Models •  Coalition casualties | POW/MIA •  Special Report

If the United States goes to war against Iraq, on whom can it count as a friend and who will line up as a foe? This week, CNN takes a look at five key countries and where they stand.

Iran

Iran has repeatedly voiced its opposition to a U.S. invasion of Iraq, even though the two Persian Gulf countries fought a long war and are bitter rivals.

About 1 million Iranian and Iraqi troops are believed to have been killed in the Iran-Iraq war, which stretched from 1980 to 1988, and thousands more are listed as missing in actions.

The two countries have never signed a peace agreement but did hold talks in early 2001 aimed at normalizing relations.

Iran's Minister of Defense Ali Shamkhani said: "Iran will steer clear of Iraq and the U.S. adventurism."

The commander of the Iranian army, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Salimi, said: "For America's recent threats, plans have been prepared."

Iran was a close ally of the United States until 1979, when Islamic militants led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini overthrew the government of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

On November 4, 1979, Iranian students occupied the U.S. embassy in Tehran and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. The U.S. broke diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980.

President Bush in January labeled Iran part of an "axis of evil," along with Iraq and North Korea, in his State of the Union address.

Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, who is considered a moderate, called the remark "unfounded" and insulting.

Iran's supreme spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Bush "speaks like a man thirsty for human blood" and vowed that Iran would defend itself if it was attacked.

After informal talks between U.S. and Iranian officials in November, however, Iran agreed to provide medical assistance to American pilots if they go down in Iranian territory and return them as soon as possible.

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