February 10, 2007	Saturday	Muharram 21, 1428

TEHRAN, Feb 9: A top Iranian cleric said on Friday the United States was within Iran's “firing range”, a day after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to hit back at US interests worldwide if attacked.

“Americans have surrounded us but it works to our advantage. They are within our firing range in the east, west and elsewhere,” Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said in his Friday prayer sermon carried live on state radio.

He was referring to the US military presence in neighbouring Iraq and Afghanistan as well as in the Gulf waters off southern Iran.

“Would you dare to violate Iranian borders? See what harm will be done to you then,” said Jananti, who heads the hardline electoral watchdog the Guardians Council.

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.

In response to Khamenei's comments the White House said it has no plans to invade Iran, and downplayed the significance of reinforcing the US military presence in the Gulf region.

A commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said on Friday: “The entire Persian Gulf is within the Guards' missile range and if foreign forces are to carry out any operations they are the ones to be most hurt”.—AFP