Iran ready to strike US 'anywhere' if attacked - diplomat |
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Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:22
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MOSCOW (AFX) - Iran is ready to strike back against the United States 'anywhere' if attacked, Iranian ambassador to Russia Gholamreza Ansari was quoted as saying Tuesday.He added, however, that Teheran was ready to consider direct talks with Washington on Iran's nuclear programme, Interfax news agency reported.'If the Americans do something foolish and attack Iran, I am sure that the Iranian people will give a very instructive lesson,' Ansari said, speaking at a conference in Moscow devoted to the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran.'We will be able to give a worthy, adequate response, and I don't doubt that Iran would make such a response immediately after the attack. We also do not limit the territory for such a response -- it could be anywhere,' Ansari said.The diplomat added: 'We are ready for talks on the nuclear issue with any partner, including the US. If the Americans make a written request for such talks, our government is ready to consider it.'Washington insists it is not planning military strikes against Iran, though it has recently raised its naval presence in the Gulf to two aircraft carrier groups, the highest concentration since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.New Yorker magazine reported Sunday that the US Defence Department had formed a special planning group to draw up possible attacks on Iran 'that can be implemented, upon orders from the president, within 24 hours'.Washington suspects Iran of developing nuclear weapons under cover of a nuclear energy programme. Iran says its nuclear programme is strictly for civilian energy generation.newsdesk@afxnews.comafp/jlcCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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Iran will hit US targets if attacked - Khamenei 