TEHRAN, April 18: President Mohammad Khatami said on Monday Iran had the military might to deter attacks against the Islamic state, which is under Western pressure over its nuclear programme. “Iran’s armed forces are fully prepared to defend the Islamic republic,” Khatami said in a speech at the annual Army Day parade.

“Iran is ready to pay any price but not yield to any aggression and oppression,” he said as army units marched past.

The United States and Israel accuse Iran of developing atomic weapons and have vowed to stop Tehran acquiring them.

But US officials have played down media speculation they were planning military action and Israeli Prime Minister last week said his country was not planning a military strike to prevent Iran from getting the bomb.

Iran insists its nuclear ambitions are limited to peaceful electricity generation.

Khatami took the salute as thousands of army, navy and air force troops passed the flower-covered stand at the shrine of the late founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Dozens of US and Russian-made warplanes flew over the shrine to demonstrate the country’s combat capabilities.—Reuters