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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, greeting Hamas leader Khaled Meshal in Tehran in February.
 Reuters
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Last update - 20:29 04/03/2009
Iran military chief: Our missiles can hit Israeli nuclear sites
By Reuters
Tags: Khamenei, Israel News, Iran 

Iranian missiles can reach Israeli nuclear sites, a top military commander said on Wednesday, amid persistent speculation that Israel could target facilities involved in Iran's atomic work.

"All the nuclear facilities in different parts of the land under the occupation of the Zionist regime are in the reach of Iran's missile defenses," the commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Ali Jafari, said according to Iran's ISNA news agency.

Iranian officials often refer to Israel's government, which Tehran does not recognize, as the "Zionist regime."
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Last month, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran would welcome talks with the U.S. - but only if there was mutual respect. Iranian officials have said that means the U.S. needs to stop accusing Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons and supporting terrorism, charges Tehran has denied.

On Wednesday, Ahmadinejad urged the United States to change its satanic ways if it is serious about wanting change.

"Change means giving up your satanic, coercive and aggressive ways and instead adopting more human morals. ... If you accept this invitation, it will be to the benefit of yourself and your nation," Ahmadinejad told a crowd in northwestern Iran. He did not mention Obama by name but was clearly referring to the new president's administration.

Those demands could help explain why U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday in a visit to Jerusalem that Obama's attempts to reach out to Iran have so far been unsuccessful. She reassured her Israeli hosts that U.S. diplomacy should not be confused with softness, saying Washington remained committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and funding terrorism.

Meanwhile Wednesday, Iran's top authority said that U.S. President Barack Obama was pursuing the same "wrong path" as George W. Bush in supporting Israel, which he called a "cancerous tumor."

The comments by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on policy in the Islamic Republic, are likely to disappoint the new U.S. administration which wants to engage Iran but has called on Tehran to "unclench its fist."

"Even the new president of America, who has come to power with slogans about changing Bush's policies, is defending state terrorism by talking about unconditional commitment to Israel's security," Khamenei said.

Khamenei, speaking at a conference on the Palestinian issue in Tehran, said Obama was following the same "wrong path" of his predecessor in the White House.

Iran is one of the most important political and financial supporters of Hamas, which the U.S. and many European countries consider a terrorist group.

Hamas' most powerful official in Gaza, Mahmoud Zahar, attended Wednesday's conference in Tehran, which Iranian state television said would focus on how to provide assistance to the Palestinians.

The United States has long called on Iran to end its opposition to peace-making in the Middle East and to stop supporting organisations like Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas group that Washington considers terrorist.

Iran says these groups are fighting an illegal occupation on Palestinian land and does not recognize Israel's right to exist.

One Iranian analyst said Khamenei may be restating Iran's tough line to make clear Tehran would not easily give up regional policies that could be bargaining chips in any talks.

"He is saying you also have to change if you want us to change," said the analyst, who asked not be named. "Iran cannot afford letting go of its regional policies. It cannot happen that easily."

Breaking with Bush, Obama's administration has talked of engaging with Iran on a range of issues including its disputed nuclear ambitions. But a senior U.S. official said Monday that it was doubtful Iran would respond to any offers of engagement when they are made.

Ultimately, any decision will depend on Khamenei, who has so far not directly addressed the issue of Obama's overtures but has in the past said U.S. governments could not be trusted.

"Another big mistake is to say that the only way to save the Palestinian nation is by negotiations," Khamenei said.

"Negotiations with whom? With an occupying and bullying regime, who does not believe in any other principle other than force? ... Or negotiations with America and Britain who committed the biggest sin in creating and supporting this cancerous tumor ... ?" he added.

"The way to salvation [for Palestinians] is standing firm and resisting," the supreme leader said.

Khamenei also said the Holocaust, in which six million Jews died at the hands of the Nazis, was used to "usurp" Palestinian land and said the West and Israel showed the weakness of their cause by not allowing anyone to question the Holocaust.

Ahmadinejad, who previously caused Western ire by saying the Holocaust was a "myth", said: "The story of the Holocaust, a nation without a homeland and a homeland without a nation ... are the big lies of our era."

"The continuation of the Zionist regime even on one inch of the land of Palestine, because of the nature of that regime, means the continuation of crime, occupation, threat and insult to the nations," the president told the conference.

He repeated a call for a referendum among Palestinian Muslims, Jews and Christians around the world to determine what government to establish on all land that now includes Israel.

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      1.   Khamenei should be careful... 09:51  |  JonathanInTelAviv 04/03/09
      2.   Not Iraq, Not Afghanistan but Iran 10:11  |  Shalom Freedman 04/03/09
      3.   Israel never learns 10:13  |  gus 04/03/09
      4.   gus 11:52  |  . 04/03/09
      5.   To All Liberals And Anti-Israel Terror Apologists 11:59  |  Israeli 04/03/09
      6.   You have to admit 12:38  |  Neutered Observer 04/03/09
      7.   Megalomania of the highest order 12:52  |  allang 04/03/09
      8.   Let`s metastasize 13:33  |  Yonatan 04/03/09
      9.   Khameni should now - its what Iran pracrtices regularly 14:02  |  Magpie 04/03/09
      10.   America certainly is unwise 14:05  |  Mark Lincoln 04/03/09
      11.   To5 All Liberals And Anti-Israel Terror Apologists 14:48  |  Jerryk 04/03/09
      12.   Israel = Iran 14:59  |  Ali 04/03/09
      13.   yonathon ever heard of blow back? 15:00  |  listen up 04/03/09
      14.   Stop Recognizing Iran 15:05  |  Jim 04/03/09
      15.   The middle between Clinton and Khamenei...... 15:06  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/03/09
      16.   That rich coming from Iran 15:09  |  George 04/03/09
      17.   Responce to "Cancerous" Israel 15:49  |  Alex 04/03/09
      18.   Iran is ready for war with US and Israel 15:52  |  Siad 04/03/09
      19.   #1 JonathanlnTelAviv 15:54  |  Cool B 04/03/09
      20.   #5 your future is in your hands 15:57  |  Siad 04/03/09
      21.   ad Gus 16:25  |  Hannibal 04/03/09
      22.   With the current settlement efforts in mind... 16:30  |  Hannibal 04/03/09
      23.   Time for Obama himself to respond directly to Khamenei hisself... 16:35  |  S 04/03/09
      24.   To Gus # 4 16:45  |  Abuya 04/03/09
      25.   These words themselves are casus belli 16:56  |  Paul Freedman 04/03/09
      26.   Mental Illness of Iran`s Leaders 16:56  |  Brad 04/03/09
      27.   #4 GUS 17:07  |  Jacob 04/03/09
      28.   Islamists are the "cancer" inside Iran 17:09  |  Tehran Joe 04/03/09
      29.   Negotiations taking place 17:11  |  Simon Sharmer 04/03/09
      30.   And some ask why Dimona..... 17:12  |  Adam 04/03/09
      31.   Really Paul Fredman 17:25  |  Iranian 04/03/09
      32.   Israel`s missiles can hit Iran`s nuclear... 17:26  |  David Nigel Braham 04/03/09
      33.   America`s new bride: Syria 17:34  |  observer 04/03/09
      34.   Best israeli reply: weaponize, test, adopt "launch-on-warning" 17:35  |  Dr. L. Brnd 04/03/09
      35.   Do the Iranian leaders read Haaretz Talkback.? 17:41  |  Stephen. 04/03/09
      36.   Zahar was given safe passage to confrence by Ehud Barak 17:41  |  r 04/03/09
      37.   Khaled Meshal 17:45  |  baurat 04/03/09
      38.   Brad & the Lunatics (does it sound like a 1950s beach band?) 17:50  |  Hannibal 04/03/09
      39.   S - Part I 17:51  |  Persian Kitty 04/03/09
      40.   To "Israeli" #5 (second attempt) 17:56  |  Benny 04/03/09
      41.   Iran hosts conference on Palestine aid and Israeli crimes 17:58  |  Daniel 04/03/09
      42.   supporting Israel, which he called a "cancerous tumor." 18:05  |  Magna 04/03/09
      43.   Iran... 18:06  |  Yosemite 04/03/09
      44.   Let the fireworks begin.... 18:06  |  Texan 04/03/09
      45.   Iran Hasn`t Been Punched Back In The Face Of Its Motherland, Yet! 18:07  |  Lavi 04/03/09
      46.   Obama`s Dialog With Iran Is Destined To Fail 18:09  |  Bill Foonman 04/03/09
      47.   S - Part II 18:10  |  Pesian Kitty 04/03/09
      48.   Top Iranian commander: Our missiles can hit Israeli nuclear sites 18:11  |  dennis 04/03/09
      49.   #42 Dennis of Boston 18:20  |  Chris Linthwaite 04/03/09
      50.   hello america 18:20  |  nabti 04/03/09
      51.   S - Part III 18:23  |  Persian Kitty 04/03/09
      52.   why Iran is joking 18:36  |  flimflam 04/03/09
      53.   Nabti 18:38  |  Persian Kitty 04/03/09
      54.   To Dr. L. Brnd #31 18:41  |  Benny 04/03/09
      55.   #12, Ali...not even close! 18:50  |  DR 04/03/09
      56.   Lets rename iran and let people of the world decide 18:52  |  daniel 04/03/09
      57.   # 14 yonatan 18:59  |  Axel 04/03/09
      58.   ad Texan #44 19:00  |  Hastrubal 04/03/09
      59.   It`s just a warning, don`t attack Iran! 19:02  |  Tom Clark 04/03/09
      60.   Mark Lincoln is not the Lincoln of yore 19:02  |  *BEN JABO 04/03/09
      61.   #13 listen up - now hear this 19:06  |  *BEN JABO 04/03/09
      62.   To Siad and other Iranians and the arab world 19:07  |  SteveS 04/03/09
      63.   To # 8 You are insane! 19:07  |  Tom Clark 04/03/09
      64.   #5 Israeli 19:07  |  amy 04/03/09
      65.   Allan G 19:08  |  Persian Kitty 04/03/09
      66.   Persian Kitty - the three Parts 19:09  |  S 04/03/09
      67.   Top Iranian commander: Our missiles can hit Israeli nuclear sites 19:10  |  Joshua 04/03/09
      68.   Israeli #5 keep repeating your comment 19:13  |  Lola 04/03/09
      69.   Hey Ali, let throw a few of these toy 19:15  |  lola 04/03/09
      70.   Irans` leadership is cancerous tumor! 19:17  |  Jeff 04/03/09
      71.   #49 Linthwaite - What might be more interesting 19:20  |  *BEN JABO 04/03/09
      72.   nutty vengeful liars iran has for leaders.they stand and say 19:22  |  glenna 04/03/09
      73.   Stephen in Geneve 19:28  |  Persian Kitty 04/03/09
      74.   #31--they don`t 19:31  |  Paul Freedman 04/03/09
      75.   symptoms of cancer 19:52  |  chris 04/03/09
      76.   Sand turds 19:57  |  Texan 04/03/09
      77.   Don`t attack Iran 19:58  |  Yechiel 04/03/09
      78.   Iran`s threat 20:00  |  Brod 04/03/09
      79.   Cool B don`t delude yourself 20:07  |  dudu 04/03/09
      80.   Iran`s threat 20:08  |  Brod 04/03/09
      81.   #3 Mr. Gussie-your not too bright 20:10  |  Don Rosenberg 04/03/09
      82.   The Coming Conflagration 20:11  |  Binyamin 04/03/09
      83.   Iran 20:13  |  Don Rosenberg 04/03/09
      84.   sounds like they are for the one state for all solution 20:26  |  Bill 04/03/09
      85.   Bill in Chicago 20:38  |  Persian Kitty 04/03/09
      86.   #8 Yonaton 21:10  |  janet 04/03/09
      87.   #44 Texan 21:22  |  JANET 04/03/09
      88.   #59 Texan re "sand turds" 21:33  |  janet 04/03/09
      89.   Ayatollah Khamenei`s Tirade 21:41  |  Jeff Northridge 04/03/09
      90.   #62 Dudu 21:42  |  janet 04/03/09
      91.   Let`s have a verbal war. 21:42  |  Tzfonit 04/03/09
      92.   #64 Mr Rosenberg 21:46  |  janet 04/03/09
      93.   #66 No Mr Rosenberg 21:50  |  janet 04/03/09
      94.   JUST TO PLEASE IRAN..... 21:51  |  Ian 04/03/09
      95.   Iran a Paper Tiger to be Shredded 22:16  |  Baruch Gold 04/03/09
      96.   A bunch of hot air 22:21  |  JS 04/03/09
      97.   Janet #70 22:22  |  Brod 04/03/09
      98.   They`ve already done this, L.Brnd # 34 22:25  |  Clickfool 04/03/09
      99.   Baruch Gold #72 22:46  |  Brod 04/03/09
      100.   dimona 22:52  |  zoe 04/03/09
      101.   Dino (Swiss) 22:54  |  Real Swiss 04/03/09
      102.   TOO MUCH HUSS AND FUSS ABOUT WHAT?? 23:12  |  M.H 04/03/09
      103.   Tzfonit`s whimsical solution 23:15  |  Tzfonit 04/03/09
      104.   Maybe Israel needs to hit Iran 23:28  |  Ruben 04/03/09
      105.   #10 Mark Lincoln 23:53  |  GPS 04/03/09
      106.   Dr. L. Brnd - What Israel already said to Iran only Iran Knows. 23:56  |  GPS 04/03/09
      107.   Jeff Northridge 00:38  |  Persian Kitty 05/03/09
      108.   # 101 Real Swiss 00:43  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/03/09
      109.   Blah, Blah, Blah 01:25  |  John Smith 05/03/09
      110.   Iran missiles could reach israel nuclear sites 01:41  |  Victor O. Teves 05/03/09
      111.   #97 Yes Brod, Henny Penny!! 01:45  |  janet 05/03/09
      112.   Iran`s threats 03:52  |  Joan 05/03/09
      113.   #23, S 06:13  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/03/09
      114.   the cat from Alice in Wonderland 08:37  |  Marvin Gaye 05/03/09
      115.   #95 Go for it, Barach. 09:30  |  Johnboy 05/03/09
      116.   # 108 Dino 16:31  |  The Teacher/Instruct 05/03/09
      117.   S - Thank You 17:40  |  Persian Kitty 05/03/09
      118.   To the Dr. 23:40  |  Dr. Eire 05/03/09
      119.   Iranian missiles 16:38  |  American 07/03/09
      120.   Iran will definitely attack the US and Isreal 03:22  |  Persia 08/03/09
      121.   #120 18:23  |  Daniel 08/03/09
      122.   Israel Vs All 05:39  |  Brad 09/03/09
      123.   HERE`S HOW TO STOP IRAN`S NUCLEAR PROGRAM 16:48  |  abram 11/06/09
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