Iran vows to fight back amid mounting speculation on war

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-14 10:50

TEHRAN - Iranian officials vowed on Sunday that the Islamic Republic would fight back against any attacks on it and "cut off the hands" of the invaders, amid heightened speculation that Israel and the United States would attack Iranian targets for Tehran's suspicious nuclear programs.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad adjusts his earphone during a news conference after the Eight Developing Islamic Nations summit in Kuala Lumpur July 8, 2008. [Agencies]

"Before the enemies touch the trigger, the Iranian armed forces will cut off their hands," the official IRNA news agency quoted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying.

He said the missiles displayed in the recent war games, including a modified Shahab 3 missile that can reach Israel and most US bases in the Middle East, were only a small part of the country's defense capabilities.

"This is only a small part of Iran's defense capabilities," Ahmadinejad said, adding that "if it is necessary, we will display more of our defense capabilities."

Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi also said on Sunday that Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) is well-prepared to defend the country from any possible attack.

Speaking at the induction ceremony for commanders of IRGC ground forces and Basij militia, Firouzabadi said that 31 provincial guards have been formed to fight off enemies' threats.

"Once, the country's adversaries were trying to attack Iran, but when they saw the Iranian nation consolidated and united, they changed their minds," Firouzabadi added.

In separate decrees, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed Brigadier-General Mohammad Jafar Assadi as commander of IRGC's ground force, and Hojjatoleslam Hossein Taeb the new commander of the Basij force.

The new appointments of military commanders came after the IRGC held military exercises dubbed Payambar-e Azam 3 (Great Prophet 3) last week in response to threats from the United States and Israel.

During the recent military maneuvers, Iran test-fired new long- and medium-range missiles, including the upgraded Shahab 3 missile equipped with a one-ton conventional warhead and capable of hitting targets within a 2,000-km range.

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