Iranian Defense Minister warns of limitless response, Iran's Revolution Guards to Counter Any Israeli Attack

Iranian DM warns of limitless response to any attack

www.chinaview.cn 2008-06-22 20:51:32

TEHRAN, June 22 (Xinhua) --

Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najar Sunday warned of a "limitless" response to any military strike, and considered reported Israel's drill in the eastern Mediterranean and Greece as "psychological operations".

"It seems that parallel efforts and psychological warfare are underway to dissuade the Iranian nation from realizing its inalienable right," Najar told Iranian Fars news agency.

"Iran will not initiate any conflict but will punish any aggressor with the greatest possible force. With determination and using all the options -- without limits in terms of time and space-- we will give a crushing response to any hostile action," he said, adding that Iran will not be intimidated by these threats and will not renounce its right.

U.S. daily The New York Times reported on Friday that U.S. military believed Israel's military exercise earlier this month was a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear sites.

More than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighter jets participated in the maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean and Greece during the first week of June, U.S. officials said.

Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari Saturday said his troops would counter any attack against the country.

Commander: Iran's Revolution Guards to counter any attack

www.chinaview.cn 2008-06-21 23:09:51

TEHRAN, June 21 (Xinhua) --

Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said Saturday that his troops would counter any attack against the country, Iran's Press TV satellite channel reported.

Speaking to reporters on an IRGC command ship in the Gulf fleet headquarters, Jafari said Saturday that Iran's armed forces are prepared to detect and repel any potential attack against the country's nuclear facilities.

After overseeing a military exercise aimed at detecting and destroying mock targets in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, Jafari asserted that Iran's army is able to instantly respond to any act of aggression.

The maneuver, which was a rehearsal of different passive defense methods, included torpedo and missile speedboat drills, Press TV quoted unidentified sources as saying.

Jafari's remarks came after a U.S. report that Israel's recent large-scale military exercise was apparently a rehearsal for a potential bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities.

The New York Times reported Friday that U.S. military believed the major military exercise by Israel earlier this month was a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear sites.

Some American officials said the Israeli exercise appeared to be an effort to develop the military's capacity to carry out long-range strikes and to demonstrate the seriousness with which Israel views Iran's nuclear program.

More than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighter jets participated in the maneuvers, which were carried out over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece during the first week of June, U.S. officials said.

The exercise also included Israeli helicopters that could be used to rescue downed pilots. The helicopters and refueling tankers flew more than 900 miles (1,450 kilometers), which is about the same distance between Israel and Iran's uranium enrichment plant at Natanz, American officials said.

A spokesman for the Israeli military said that Israel's air force "regularly trains for various missions in order to confront and meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel," but declining to discuss details of the exercise.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who visited Washington in early June, said that "the Iranian threat must be stopped by all possible means," indicating that military resort can not be excluded.

His remarks about Iran's nuclear threat are believed to be the strongest one the Israeli leader has made on the issue.

Editor: Yan Liang

Israel declines to comment on reported preparation for Iran attack

www.chinaview.cn 2008-06-21 21:34:55

JERUSALEM, June 21 (Xinhua) --

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office Saturday declined to comment on an Israeli drill reportedly held in preparation for a military raid on Iran's nuclear facilities, local daily Ha'aretz reported.

Olmert's office made the response after an Israeli political official familiar with the reported exercise told the London-based Times earlier Saturday that the Iranians should view the exercise as a warning.

"This was a dress rehearsal, and the Iranians should read the script before they continue with their program for nuclear weapons. If diplomacy does not yield results, Israel will take military steps to halt Tehran's production of bomb-grade uranium," the Israeli official was quoted as saying.

Though Olmert's office declined to comment, a senior lawmaker in his ruling Kadima Party said Saturday that diplomatic efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program have failed and the coming one to two years would be critical.

Tzachi Hanegbi, head of the Knesset (parliament) Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, told Israel Radio that the world has to decide how to proceed.

"The Israeli Air Force regularly trains for various missions in order to confront and meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel," an Israeli military spokesman said in the report.

The New York Times on Friday quoted unidentified American officials as saying that more than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighter jets took part in the maneuvers over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece during the first week of June.

Friday's spike was not the first signal of tensions between Israel and Iran. Earlier this month, Israeli Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz said "if Iran continues with its program for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack it."

Israeli officials later slashed out at Mofaz over his threat of military action against Iran, adding that the hawkish remarks do not represent Israel's policy.

The West believes that Iran aims at developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful use.

Editor: Bi Mingxin

Iran's speaker calls possible Israeli attack "grave mistake"

www.chinaview.cn 2008-06-22 02:28:17

TEHRAN, June 21 (Xinhua) --

Iran's Majlis (Parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani said on Saturday a possible Israeli attack against the Islamic Republic would be a "grave mistake," the official IRNA news agency reported.

"If they make such a grave mistake, they will pay a high price for it," Larijani was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the commemoration ceremony for late martyr Mostafa Chamran.

In his reaction to a report on a possible Israeli attack against Iran's nuclear installations, Larijani said "We are ready to face any situation."

The New York Times reported Friday that U.S. military believed a major military exercise by Israel earlier this month was a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear sites.

More than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighter jets participated in the maneuvers, which were carried out over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece during the first week of June, U.S. officials said.

The exercise also involved Israeli helicopters that could be used to rescue downed pilots. The helicopters and refueling tankers flew more than 900 miles (1,450 km), which is about the same distance between Israel and Iran's uranium enrichment plant at Natanz, American officials said.

A spokesman for the Israeli military said Israel's air force "regularly trains for various missions in order to confront and meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel," declining to discuss details of the exercise.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who visited Washington in early June, said "the Iranian threat must be stopped by all possible means," indicating that military resort can not be excluded.

His remarks about Iran's nuclear threat are believed to be the strongest ever the Israeli leader has made on the issue.

Editor: Yan Liang

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