WORLD / Middle East
Ahmadinejad: Iran will "cut off hand" of any attacker
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-04-18 16:10
TEHRAN - Iran's army will "cut off the hand" of any attacker and is at
the ready to fulfill its defensive duties, Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday during an annual military parade.
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad points to his supporters as he
speaks at a sport complex in the city of Shiraz, 895km (556 miles) south
of Tehran April 16, 2007. [Reuters]
Iran is embroiled in a row with the West over its nuclear ambitions. The
United States, which says Iran is trying to build an atomic bomb, has
said it wants a diplomatic resolution to the standoff but has not ruled
out military action if that fails.
Special coverage:
Iran Nuke Issue
Related readings:
Iran says could reveal new "nuclear achievements"
US military says Iran helping Iraq
Iran to install 50,000 centrifuges
"The army stands against any aggressor and will cut off its hand," the
president said in a televised address before troops, tanks, missiles and
other military hardware paraded passed.
He made a similar remark in last year's annual ceremony saying Iran would
"cut off the hands of any aggressors."
Written above the president's podium were the words: "Peaceful nuclear
technology is a fundamental and basic need for our country."
Iran, the world's fourth largest oil exporter, insists it does not seek a
nuclear weapon and says it wants to master nuclear technology so it can
generate electricity.
Ahmadinejad's statement this month that Iran had begun work to make
nuclear fuel on an industrial scale drew condemnation from the West and
was a snub to the UN Security Council which has demanded Tehran halt all
such uranium enrichment work.
The United States has warned Iran it could face further sanctions, which
would follow two previous UN sanctions resolutions. The first resolution
was passed in December.
Top Iranian officials have brushed off the impact of sanctions and say
Iran is ready for any eventuality.
"To fulfill its responsibilities, (the army) is at full readiness," the
president said, describing Iran's military as a defensive rather than
offensive force.
"Our army is self sufficient ... and is at the service of peace,
brotherhood and security in the region," he added.
Parachutists dropped down from planes over the parade area near the tomb
of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
Close by are tens of thousands of graves of those who died in the
1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.
Tanks and armored personnel carriers loaded onto trucks were driven pass,
along with a range of missiles, unmanned surveillance aircraft and
two-man submarines with men wearing aqua-lungs standing next to them.
The television commentator described some of the equipment on show as
Nazeat-6, heat-seeking Sidewinder and radar-guided Sparrow missiles. A
land-to-sea Raad missile was also towed past on a truck.
Iran did not show off its longest range missile, the Shahab-3, which it
says can hit targets 2,000 km (1,250 miles) away, putting Israel or US
bases in the Gulf in range.
Top World News
� Abe meets Bush, renews sympathy for 'comfort women'
� Bombers strike at Iraqi army, civilians
� Putin firm in final union address
� US House OKs Iraq troop pullout bill
� Japanese PM to meet Bush in summit
Today's Top News
� China to act on pollution, warming gases
� Yang a popular choice as FM
� Hu, Lien stress cross-Straits peace
� US captures senior Al-Qaida operative
� Yang Jiechi named new FM, replacing Li Zhaoxing
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Learn Mandarin online, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment