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Last update - 13:35 12/07/2008
Iran: After Iraq and Lebanon wars, U.S. and Israel won't attack us
By News Agencies
Tags: Iran, Israel, missiles, U.S.

Iran's foreign minister said on Saturday he believed neither the United States nor Israel would want to get entangled in a new Middle East crisis and attack the Islamic Republic over its nuclear ambitions.

The comments by Manouchehr Mottaki came a few days after Iranian missile tests heightened regional tension and helped send world oil prices to new record levels.

"The Zionist regime is still involved in the after-shocks of the war with Lebanon." Mottaki told the official IRNA news agency, referring to Israel's inconclusive 2006 Second Lebanon War with Hezbollah guerrillas.
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"And the U.S. still does not possess the capacity to enter another crisis in the Persian Gulf region."

Mottaki also said that Iran's response would be "firm and pounding" if its two foes launched strikes against the country.

But, he added: "Of course, the Zionist regime and the U.S. do not possess such capacities to want to involve themselves in new crises."

Iran says its nuclear program is aimed only at generating electricity. Western nations and Israel fear the world's fourth-largest oil exporter is seeking to build nuclear weapons.

Washington has said it wants diplomacy to end the nuclear row but has not ruled out military action should that fail.

Israel has sworn to prevent Iran from emerging as a nuclear-armed power.

Last month it reportedly staged an air force exercise that stoked speculation about a possible assault on Iranian nuclear sites.

Also Saturday, Iran warned the United States and Israel on Saturday it would be "madness" to attack the Islamic Republic over a nuclear programme the West suspects is aimed at making bombs.

"We do not imagine that anybody would commit such madness and stupidity ... and nobody has the power to make such aggression," the state broadcaster quoted government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham as saying.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is not a threat at all and will not accept any threats," he said.

Iran has vowed to strike back at Tel Aviv and U.S. interests and shipping if it is attacked. Tehran says missiles fired during Revolutionary Guards wargames on Wednesday included ones that could hit Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East.

"The recent maneuver ... and the firing of indigenously produced missiles was the display of the Islamic Republic of Iran's capabilities and the scientists and innovators of our country," Mottaki said.

Asked how concerned President George W. Bush's administration was about the Iranian test-firings, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters in Washington on Friday: "I would just characterize it as continued Iranian defiance of international obligations and further isolating its people."

Perino said it would "re-strengthen" the international community's resolve in the standoff with Iran, but she also stressed Washington's aim of reaching a diplomatic solution.

Analysts say any U.S. or Israeli attack on Iran would be limited to air strikes, rather than a full-scale attack with U.S. ground forces, which are tied down in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They say Iran could respond with unconventional tactics, such as deploying small craft to attack ships, or using allies in the area to strike at U.S. or Israeli interests.

Senior Iranian Ayatollah: Our missiles neither threat nor fake

A senior Iranian Ayatollah said Friday that the missile tests in
Iran have neither been a threat to any country nor are they fake.

"There have been several comments about our missiles' tests, especially by the United States, and all of them are wrong," said Ayatollah Mohammad Emami-Kashani at the Friday prayer ceremony in Tehran.

Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guards test-fired during the last three days several medium- and long-range missiles, including the Shahab-3 missile which is said to have a range of 2000 kilometres and therefore capable of reaching any part of the territory of Israel.

There have been reports that the tests were a threat against Israel and U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf and also other reports that the revolutionary guards had exaggerated Iran's missile capabilities.

"Unlike you (the U.S. and Israel), we are having our military maneuvers inside our own territory, and this is an internationally acknowledged and legitimate move," said the Ayatollah who is close to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"Furthermore, the Islamic Republic has in the last three decades not violated any country but in return was violated with U.S. support," he added.

Emami-Kashani was referring to the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war where the US supported the regime of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and the 1998 conflict with the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan which almost led to another regional war.

"We have a clear (territorial) framework but where is your framework? We have no history in invading other countries but what is your (U.S. and Israel) history? Invasions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Palestine," the Ayatollah said.

"Whether these missiles have a range of 2,000 or 3,000 or 5,000 kilometres, we do not intend to violate any country," he added, referring to reports about having manipulated the pictures of the missile launching.

"We are just saying, if you hit us, we are capable to hit back and that is quite legitimate," the leaders' aide warned.

The Ayatollah also said that the U.S. uproar over the missile tests was only to please Israel although the whole world is aware that Iran is simply following Islam and the Koran and therefore is obliged not to harm anybody, whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims.

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  • Defense Minister Barak: Israel isn't afraid to take action against Iran
  • Iran test fires missiles said to be capable of hitting Israel
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      1.   So says comical Ayatoli 14:48  |  ScotGuy 11/07/08
      2.   Irab is a case for Austin Powers not for the IAF 14:56  |  ScotGuy 11/07/08
      3.   The head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard 15:03  |  Michael Durson 11/07/08
      4.   some to listen and talk talk to.. 15:05  |  bashar 11/07/08
      5.   Islam. 15:26  |  Jean Van Daem 11/07/08
      6.   Obligations not to Harm 15:38  |  Ronnie Wolman 11/07/08
      7.   now seriously 15:46  |  cool 11/07/08
      8.   Ronnie #6-Well Spoken! 16:15  |  Albert 11/07/08
      9.   illegal 16:25  |  KK 11/07/08
      10.   Ayatollah speaks 16:36  |  Kt 11/07/08
      11.   they have the moral high ground 17:02  |  reza shah 11/07/08
      12.   SAVAK is alive and well 17:13  |  Joe Camel 11/07/08
      13.   Iranian Ayatollah`s Failed Logic 17:25  |  Brad 11/07/08
      14.   Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world 17:35  |  Christian 11/07/08
      15.   Criminal Regime 17:46  |  Sol 11/07/08
      16.   to Jean Van Daem, on the origins of religions 17:50  |  armchair theologian 11/07/08
      17.   #6. The obligation not to harm is not lost. 17:58  |  ManintheMiddle 11/07/08
      18.   RE: #6 18:04  |  ALBERT 11/07/08
      19.   Still Laughing at how scared they want us to be 18:10  |  Dish It Out 11/07/08
      20.   Moshe to Mohammad: nor our nukes. 18:18  |  Moshe 11/07/08
      21.   iran wusses have been killing outside iran`s borders since `79 18:24  |  frenz 11/07/08
      22.   The Ayatollah is himself a fake 18:25  |  Dwido 11/07/08
      23.   Neither or maybe both? 18:35  |  Realist 11/07/08
      24.   Al-Takyia, Al-Takyia, Al-Takyia, Al-Takyia is also part of Islam 18:36  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/07/08
      25.   An improvement 18:40  |  Sherlock Holmes 11/07/08
      26.   A Reminder - There will Be Consequences If Israel Attacks 19:47  |  chet 11/07/08
      27.   Obliged Not To Harm Anybody [But] 19:50  |  Gil 11/07/08
      28.   IRAN Obliged Not To Harm Anybody [But] 19:51  |  Gil 11/07/08
      29.   only the Iranians 20:28  |  alex 11/07/08
      30.   With All ThisTalk 20:42  |  Peter Morales 11/07/08
      31.   To Chet No 13 - Right on 20:58  |  Dwido 11/07/08
      32.   Chet 21:01  |  Honest Observation 11/07/08
      33.   Iran 21:25  |  John 11/07/08
      34.   RIGHT! 21:32  |  4:20 11/07/08
      35.   "friday prayers" 21:35  |  iranian 11/07/08
      36.   Ayatollahs praise mass weapons...I though God told love, not war 22:11  |  Alain 11/07/08
      37.   Please! Call Them Mullah`s! 22:24  |  Yuri 11/07/08
      38.   #9, you show your fallaciousness and bias too easily 23:05  |  Jon 11/07/08
      39.   Iran/Israel tension 23:10  |  Reid 11/07/08
      40.   Iran/Israel tension 23:19  |  Reid 11/07/08
      41.   Chet # 17 00:12  |  Bill H. 12/07/08
      42.   Comical Ayatollah! or comical Israel 00:57  |  gus 12/07/08
      43.   Where are the Palestinian bomb shelters?? 01:13  |  Dave 12/07/08
      44.   Peter (im)Morales of Boston 01:55  |  Absolute Israel 12/07/08
      45.   Honest Observation of NYC 01:59  |  Absolute Israel 12/07/08
      46.   My opinion about Iran has shifted somewhat 02:35  |  Moshe 12/07/08
      47.   #11 Dish it out. Saddam Hussein... 04:06  |  Maureen Ann 12/07/08
      48.   Moshe, Israel is a tool for Iran I think, not a goal 05:37  |  Mark B. 12/07/08
      49.   #26, You see chet from Canada 06:15  |  Norman 12/07/08
      50.   Is Ahmadinejad afraid ? 07:23  |  Jean Van Daem 12/07/08
      51.   to Mark B. from Amesterdam 07:47  |  Nima 12/07/08
      52.   Nima @#51 10:09  |  Absolute Israel 12/07/08
      53.   Example of an ignorant, irresponsible leader 10:36  |  Joe Sittizen 12/07/08
      54.   Moshe Iran support for Hamas is small compared to Israel`s 10:38  |  Iranian-american 12/07/08
      55.   It is a Matter of Time 10:39  |  MiddleStanian 12/07/08
      56.   He is right... 11:04  |  David Nigel Braham 12/07/08
      57.   Roaring as usual 11:43  |  Wax 12/07/08
      58.   ScotGuy....Comics 13:56  |  sohel saheen 12/07/08
      59.   fear in their eyes 14:05  |  istahan 12/07/08
      60.   #46 Moshe 15:01  |  louis 12/07/08
      61.   Question for David Nigel Braham # 56 15:26  |  Clickfool 12/07/08
      62.   Chet, the Great White North freezing synapses? 16:25  |  Joe Sittizen