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An Iranian Sejil 2 missile in front of a banner showing Iran's supreme leader.
(Reuters)
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Last update - 11:34 25/07/2009
Iran: If Israel attacks us, we'll hit its nuclear sites
By Reuters
Tags: israel news, iran, nuclear

The leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that Iran would strike Israel's nuclear facilities if Israel attacked it, state television reported.

"If the Zionist regime attacks Iran, we will surely strike its nuclear facilities with our missile capabilities," Mohammad Ali Jafari, Guards commander-in-chief, told Iran's Arabic language al-Alam television.

The Revolutionary Guards are the ideologically driven wing of Iran's military with air, sea and land capabilities, and a separate command structure to regular units.
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Iranian leaders often dismiss talk of a possible strike by Israel, saying it is not in a position to threaten Iran, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter. They say Iran would respond to any attack by targeting U.S. interests and Israel.

"We are not responsible for this regime and other enemies' foolishness ... If they strike Iran, our answer will be firm and precise," state television quoted Jafari as saying.

The United States, Israel and their Western allies fear that Iran is enriching uranium with the aim of producing nuclear weapons and have not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the row.

Iran says it is pursuing only a nuclear power generation program.

Israel, widely believed to be the Middle East's only nuclear power, has repeatedly described Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence. Iran refuses to recognize Israel.

Jafari said Israel was entirely within the reach of Iran.

"Our missile capability puts all of the Zionist regime within Iran's reach to attack," Jafari said. "The Zionist regime is too small to threaten Iran."

Military experts say Iran rarely reveals enough detail about its new military equipment to determine its military capabilities.

Israel has so far quietly acceded to Washington's strategy of talking to Tehran about curtailing its sensitive nuclear work.

Israel believes that a multi-level missile shield underwritten by the United States would protect the country against possible missile attacks.

Jafari said such a shield could only protect Israel "in a limited way".

"But they will have no answer when Iran bombards them [and] sends a great number of its missiles," he added.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in May said Iran had tested a missile that defense analysts say could hit Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf. Washington said the test was a "step in the wrong direction" to remove concerns over its nuclear work.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for about 40 percent of globally traded oil, if it is attacked. The U.S. military says it will prevent any such action.

Military experts say Iranian missiles often draw on technology from China, North Korea and other countries.

Israel has three German-made submarines that are widely assumed to carry nuclear missiles.

One of the submarines sailed from the Mediterranean, via the Suez Canal, to Israel's Red Sea port of Eilat in early July, seen as a signal to Iran of the long reach of its arsenal.

Jafari said Iran "was not scared" of Israel's military capabilities. "It is part of the psychological war that the West has launched against Iran," he said.

Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map, was re-elected in a disputed June 12 presidential vote that stirred the largest display of internal unrest in the country since the 1979 Islamic revolution.


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      1.   Iran nukes 11:45  |  GA 25/07/09
      2.   Duh!, why wouldn`t they retaliate? 11:55  |  Yishai Cohen 25/07/09
      3.   Padding 11:59  |  JW 25/07/09
      4.   That makes life easier 12:04  |  Chris Linthwaite 25/07/09
      5.   Once upon a time, there was a clown that.... 12:16  |  Stephen. 25/07/09
      6.   The only arabic power to struck Israeil was hizbullah 12:53  |  Taha Mokhtar 25/07/09
      7.   Poor Iranians: Be careful, your rulers lead you towards disaster 13:34  |  Vittorio 25/07/09
      8.   The fanatics on the path of destruction 13:43  |  Brod 25/07/09
      9.   Iran/Israel 14:02  |  The Teacher/Instruct 25/07/09
      10.   `If Israel attacks Iran, we will strike its nuclear facilities` 14:05  |  Joshua 25/07/09
      11.   Fair deal. 14:25  |  Dutch Dirk 25/07/09
      12.   Nazi Germany led by Aryan Fanatic Leader Treatenned in 1933 14:43  |  Israeli Realist 25/07/09
      13.   `And if Iran attacks our nuclear facilities, we`ll nuke it` 14:49  |  Lolza Minnelli 25/07/09
      14.   of course 14:53  |  kemal yılmaz 25/07/09
      15.   Israel should protect its own interests 14:57  |  Brian 25/07/09
      16.   #1 Vittorio 14:58  |  Cool B 25/07/09
      17.   Vittorio l Italiano 14:59  |  Ciccolina 25/07/09
      18.   Question: 15:01  |  Brian 25/07/09
      19.   nuclear free middleeast plz, including israel! 15:06  |  arab israeli 25/07/09
      20.   Iran`s threats - again. 15:20  |  DT 25/07/09
      21.   To Israel: We would never leave you 15:23  |  Sam 25/07/09
      22.   Talk is cheap 15:35  |  Ishai 25/07/09
      23.   Iranian would sytike back 15:42  |  Cesare 25/07/09
      24.   Iranians: Better to oust your regime yourselves 15:49  |  Nechama 25/07/09
      25.   Sadly, the same can be said about the poor Israelis 16:00  |  william 25/07/09
      26.   the sheer stupidity of iran will lead to a world war 16:09  |  Tom 25/07/09
      27.   # 1 so Iran has no right to defend itself? 16:21  |  jc 25/07/09
      28.   if you hit you are wrong 16:29  |  dani.a 25/07/09
      29.   Some Iranians and Arabs have the same mentality. 16:33  |  MMM 25/07/09
      30.   Iran, take care of your people 16:48  |  Lola 25/07/09
      31.   Calm Down 16:51  |  Rachel Kohn 25/07/09
      32.   Iran is right to defend itself if attacked 16:54  |  chilem 25/07/09
      33.   Nice Picture 16:57  |  zenwick 25/07/09
      34.   The U.S. will protect Israel fron Iranian nukes 17:01  |  Wendy 25/07/09
      35.   IF they can hit Israel`s nuclear sites 17:07  |  Mark Lincoln 25/07/09
      36.   Brian and question 17:08  |  Arie 25/07/09
      37.   Assume Iran makes good on its threat ... 17:16  |  Morris Valentine 25/07/09
      38.   Iran, retaliations, capabilities, etc. 17:16  |  charro 25/07/09
      39.   Seems like the shoe is on the other foot 17:16  |  Norman 25/07/09
      40.   Iran showed its capabilities during iraq iran war 17:16  |  chilem 25/07/09
      41.   how to invite a nuclear holocaust. irans nitwits 17:26  |  v hardman 25/07/09
      42.   WHEN NOT IF 17:27  |  Ray 25/07/09
      43.   Iran has every right to protect itself against a rogue state... 17:37  |  BBSNews 25/07/09
      44.   Why not be more open Iran? 17:49  |  pagael 25/07/09
      45.   No parallel 17:51  |  ol` Case 25/07/09
      46.   A simple solution for Israel then 17:58  |  Chris Linthwaite 25/07/09
      47.   gentle reminder: iran got no nukes or program 18:00  |  remember? 25/07/09
      48.   NOT IF, BUT WHEN 18:01  |  Ray 25/07/09
      49.   to wendy lol usa,israel have nukes not iran 18:01  |  chilem 25/07/09
      50.   # 18 Angry Arab 18:19  |  maoriboy 25/07/09
      51.   Israel and Iran 18:27  |  Lebanese Forever 25/07/09
      52.   to #20 Wendy 18:29  |  Lebanese Forever 25/07/09
      53.   to b.s. news 18:37  |  neil 25/07/09
      54.   Iran has ALREADY attacked Israel - from Lebanon, Gaza, Argentina 19:07  |  Dr. L. Brnd 25/07/09
      55.   Tit for Tat 19:08  |  Fairness 25/07/09
      56.   @Iran, retaliations, capabilities, etc. 19:19  |  Ronald 25/07/09
      57.   Don`t print this Haaretz, for reference Intelligence/Mossad 19:20  |  The Archives 25/07/09
      58.   They are really worried- and should 19:24  |  17 25/07/09
      59.   Prehaps Israel should attack 19:58  |  Bob 25/07/09
      60.   Shut up Bs news you must be a child to repeat so much BS 20:02  |  JPe 25/07/09
      61.   #24 Arie---who cares if you are comfortable 20:08  |  andrew 25/07/09
      62.   Iran Has Already Declared A State Of War 20:18  |  UsedToPostHere 25/07/09
      63.   re: Wendy 20:20  |  UsedToPostHere 25/07/09
      64.   JC 16 to # 1 20:36  |  Eaglebeak 25/07/09
      65.   Cool B to Vittorio # 1 20:40  |  Eaglebeak 25/07/09
      66.   Reality Check 20:47  |  The Russian 25/07/09
      67.   BBSNews 20:48  |  Eaglebeak 25/07/09
      68.   The bottom line 20:51  |  Hector 25/07/09
      69.   BBSKid 20:52  |  Ander 25/07/09
      70.   I wonder if war mongers wear their shoes on backwards too 20:54  |  CJ 25/07/09
      71.   Wendy - Er WHY would the USA defend a belligerent Israel? 20:59  |  CJ 25/07/09
      72.   #24 Good Point-Appreciate your comment 21:04  |  Brian 25/07/09
      73.   ol` Case - Er ..WHAT Iranian Nuclear program? 21:59  |  CJ 25/07/09
      74.   I guess people dont remember the iraq iran war 22:00  |  chilem 25/07/09
      75.   Iran`s threats 22:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/07/09
      76.   #23 mark even by accident if iran hit nuclear sites or weapons 22:33  |  v hardman 25/07/09
      77.   The barking dog 22:41  |  Rory 25/07/09
      78.   Spinning catastrophic military threats 22:47  |  allang 25/07/09
      79.   Iran`s right of defense?-Iran threatens to wipe Israel off.Israel 22:52  |  Vittorio 25/07/09
      80.   Rachel Kohn: I advise you to read comments of Cipora Juliana Kohn 22:55  |  Vittorio 25/07/09
      81.   Words are cheap 23:03  |  Darius Painter 25/07/09
      82.   Spinning catastrophic military threats 23:39  |  allang 25/07/09
      83.   #16 jc - of course Iran has the right to defend itself 23:49  |  Ibn Musa 25/07/09
      84.   Iran: If Israel attacks us, we`ll hit its nuclear sites 23:57  |  flora 25/07/09
      85.   answer to 24 23:59  |  proud Obama Voter 25/07/09
      86.   "Light unto the nations." 00:18  |  Maureen Ann 26/07/09
      87.   Iran`s Retaliation 00:39  |  Kal 26/07/09
      88.   They are more scared than the Israelis 00:48  |  ScotGuy 26/07/09
      89.   Vittorio, you don`t read much. Do you? 00:52  |  ManintheMiddle 26/07/09
      90.   Message to IT security at Haaretz 01:06  |  Erik Hoffmoen 26/07/09
      91.   Spinning catastrophic military threats 01:29  |  allang 26/07/09
      92.   Andrew #39: You seem like a man of enormous moral courage. 01:54  |  Steve 26/07/09
      93.   Morris Valentine since when is a declaration to defend ones self 01:55  |  American in NY 26/07/09
      94.   wrong citation 01:56  |  Jaap 26/07/09
      95.   #44, Reality Check 02:40  |  Bruce 26/07/09
      96.   for u.s iran means money 03:06  |  heretic 26/07/09
      97.   Iranian retaliation 05:16  |  US taxpayer 26/07/09
      98.   No more Iranian BS. 08:38  |  Fortuna Benmayor 26/07/09
      99.   # 24 to arie and brian 11:05  |  eric 26/07/09
      100.   #84 Flora - No, it simply because Iran 18:01  |  Ibn Musa 26/07/09
      101.   #86 Maureen Ann 18:02  |  Ibn Musa 26/07/09
      102.   #93 American in NY - If a war starts 18:10  |  Ibn Musa 26/07/09
      103.   Ibn Musa??? Care to provide.... 19:12  |  CJ 26/07/09
      104.   #74 chilem of Arlington, I remember the Iran/Iraq War 20:10  |  Murray of Montreal 26/07/09
      105.   #103 C.J. No, I wouldn`t care to provide 17:39  |  Ibn Musa 27/07/09
      106.   #103 C.J. I don`t care to provide 18:31  |  Ibn Musa 27/07/09
      107.   C.J. since you`re incapable of finding it by yourslef 18:44  |  Ibn Musa 27/07/09
      108.   C.J. It`s like throwing good money after bad 19:39  |  Ibn Musa 27/07/09
      109.   C.J. Just more little thing 20:26  |  Ibn Musa 27/07/09
      110.   C.J. let`s trade places 23:46  |  Ibn Musa 27/07/09
      111.   Ibn Musa - That`d be no, you can`t 03:13  |  CJ 28/07/09
      112.   #107 C.,J. are you really that blind?? 16:57  |  Ibn Musa 28/07/09
      113.   3RD TRY C.J. Open your eyes? 17:11  |  Ibn Musa 28/07/09
      114.   The fact is, a prediction, is not a threat. 07:17  |  CJ 29/07/09
      115.   Ibn Musa - still nothing. Lift your game...Abuse has no place in 09:50  |  CJ 29/07/09
      116.   Ibn Musa - #113??? 09:58  |  CJ 29/07/09
      117.   #114 C.J. It`s really a pity 17:26  |  Ibn Musa 29/07/09
      118.   #115 C.J. Those weren`t predicitons 17:30  |  Ibn Musa 29/07/09
      119.   C.J. You sure have a short memory 17:34  |  Ibn Musa 29/07/09
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