Tehran pledges to deal 'powerful blow' against attack

RIA Novosti
Friday, June 20, 2008

TEHRAN, June 20 (RIA Novosti) - Iran's senior cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said Friday that Tehran would respond to any attack by Israel or the U.S. with a "powerful blow" after a paper claimed that Israel was preparing to attack Iran.

Escalating tensions

The New York Times reported Friday that the Israeli Air Force conducted military exercises in early June described as a "dress rehearsal" for an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. The report comes as the West handed a new set of incentives aimed at persuading Iran to give up its controversial uranium enrichment program.

The exercises involving over 100 Israeli fighters were aimed at sending a clear signal to Iran, an official at the Pentagon was cited as saying: "They wanted us to know, they wanted the Europeans to know, and they wanted the Iranians to know."

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An Israeli military official was also quoted by the Times as saying that Israel "regularly trains for various missions in order to confront and meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel."

Iran responded quickly to the report with Khatami pledging during Friday prayers: "If enemies, in particular Israel and its allies takes it upon itself to use language of force, then they can be assured that they will receive a "powerful blow" in response."

Incentives proposed

Although the EU is prepared for tougher sanctions it has sought a diplomatic route with foreign policy chief Javier Solana visiting Tehran Saturday to give Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki a new set of incentives backed by world powers.

The new deal from the Iran Six - China, France, Russia, the United States, Germany and Britain - recognizes Iran's right to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and offers support for the construction of light water reactors, help with supplying nuclear fuel, and a renewal of economic ties with the West.

The package also offers more trade links with Western countries, assistance with Iran's accession to the World Trade Organization, cooperation in regional security, the environment, agriculture, transportation and education.

U.S. and Russian positions

Washington, which continues to insist Iran's controversial uranium enrichment program is aimed at creating a nuclear weapon, has repeatedly threatened to use force if Iran continues on its current path and refuses to give up enrichment.

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