TEHRAN, Feb 8: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday warned that Iran would hit back at American interests worldwide if the United States attacked the Islamic republic to thwart its nuclear programme.
“They should not intimidate the Iranian people with these things, since the United States has previously attacked Iran,” Khamenei said, referring to repeated speculation that Washington plans to strike Iran's nuclear facilities.
“The enemies understand well that the Iranian nation will give a comprehensive response to the aggressors and their interests worldwide,” Ayatollah Khamenei added, according to state-run television.
His comments came on the second and final day of war games by Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, who on Thursday successfully test-fired a land-to-sea missile with a range of 350 kilometres.
On Wednesday, Iran said the Guards successfully test-fired a new Russian-made air defence missile system, whose delivery last month sparked bitter US criticism.
The supreme leader’s remarks followed those by another top official, Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Javad Zarif, who warned in a column in The New York Times that efforts to isolate Iran would simply backfire on the United States, increasing sectarian tensions in the volatile Middle East, including Iraq.
Ayatollah Khamenei did not specify what such retaliation would involve, but he expressed confidence that Iran's arch-enemy would have the “sanity” not to be tempted to launch a strike.
“We believe that no one will make such an irrational and erroneous move and will not jeopardize his nation's interests,” Khamenei told air force commanders during a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Islamic revolution.
“Of course some say the US President (George W. Bush) does not think about the consequences of his actions, but some sanity could be put into the head of even these people,” Khamenei added.
“The American politicians and analysts know that the Iranian people have never let any aggression go unanswered,” he said.—Agencies
