Iran Army downplays Western threats

A senior Iranian commander says the army is fully prepared to defend the nation’s territorial integrity in the face of Western threats of a military attack.

The enemies are well aware of the preparedness and power of the Iranian Armed Forces because “if they did not know it, they would not hesitate to carry out their threats,” Brigadier General Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan said on Monday.

“Threats will not break our will,” he was quoted by IRNA as saying.

Tel Aviv and Washington have repeatedly threatened Tehran with a military strike, based on allegations that Iran’s nuclear work may have hidden military aspects.

Iranian officials reject Western accusations that Tehran is pursuing a military nuclear program, arguing that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Iran has the right to peaceful nuclear energy.

The latest threat of a military action was invoked by US Admiral Mike Mullen who claimed he was ready to start a war if he was convinced it would keep Iran from making a “bomb.”

“They (enemies) should know that sanctions and other [punitive] measures will only make Iranian people stronger,” Brigadier General Pourdastan added.

Iranian officials say the country’s economy continues to show growth and that the sanctions have failed to affect the country’s financial sector adding that such measures provide opportunities which the Iranian nation would use to make progress.

The Iranian oil minister also announced that despite sanctions the country was expected to turn into a gasoline exporter in the near future.