Iran: We can attack U.S. interests "anywhere"

By: Alex Sundby
Topics: In The News ,; Iran

Iranian soldiers chant anti-Israeli and anti-U.S. slogans on the first day of celebrations marking the 33th anniversary of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's return from exile at Khomeini's mausoleum in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 1, 2012.

(Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

The Iranian ambassador to Russia reportedly said Wednesday that his country has the means to attack U.S. interests "anywhere in the world."

Ambassador Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi told reporters in Moscow that it would only exercise such capability if attacked by the United States, according to the Reuters news agency.

"The Americans know what kind of country Iran is. They are well aware of our people's unity," Sajjadi said. "And that's why Iran is fully able to deliver retaliatory strikes on the United States anywhere in the world."

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Sajjadi also said that Iran wouldn't strike first. That conflicts with allegations made against the country in October that it initiated an assassination plot against the Saudi ambassador to the United States. Iran has denied those allegations.

Tensions between the two nations have grown increasingly tense with Iran continuing to deny that it's pursuing weapons from its nuclear program. Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping lane, and to attack Israel have also contributed those tensions.

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Alex Sundby
Alex Sundby is an associate news editor for CBSNews.com

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by mnsr12 May 21, 2012 5:52 AM EDT: i say we must think about this before we make any moves. because it might get us to world war 3. but we should not let iran get away from this. and we should stop irans nuclear weapon before he uses it against us; Reply to this comment


by sinful-Silence February 18, 2012 5:09 PM EST: one way to justify U.S and Israel attack on Iran.
very similar to pearl harbor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg0_B4cDa4w&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLD8BC53E26568A4BE; Reply to this comment

by noloyalisti February 17, 2012 2:29 PM EST

We would say the same thing as Iran says if we were under threat of attack. In fact, our imperial Navy is threatening Iran as we speak. Can you imagine of the Iranian Navy started coming close to our shores? Who the hell do we thing WE are?

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by iowa61234 February 24, 2012 8:05 PM EST: This is nonsense. OF COURSE they could saild their navy ships near our shores anytime they want. We have always stood respected and defended freedom of the seas. At the same time we have the well recognized right to navigate any international waterway in the world. You have no clue what you're talking about.

by GanoeF February 16, 2012 2:37 AM EST

Timeline at bottom of article starts in late 1970s, conveniently ignoring the CIA instigated overthrow of a democratically elected government of Iran in 1953 (Google "Operation AJAX" to read about it). The USA supported the despotic Shah for a quarter-century. The Iranian revolution in 1979 and the following three decades cannot be understood without this knowledge. How many US schoolchildren or readers of this article know about Operation AJAX?

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by noloyalisti February 17, 2012 2:27 PM EST: We should be ashamed of what the US has done. Pretty much anything that happens to us is blowback from our heinous state crimes against the world.


by GanoeF February 15, 2012 8:46 PM EST: Timeline at bottom of article starts in late 1970s, conveniently ignoring the CIA instigated overthrow of a democratically elected government of Iran in 1953 (Google "Operation AJAX" to read about it). The USA supported the despotic Shah for a quarter-century. The Iranian revolution in 1979 and the following three decades cannot be understood without this knowledge. How many US schoolchildren or readers of this article know about Operation AJAX?; Reply to this comment

by No_I_Dont_believe_you February 15, 2012 5:32 AM EST

This isn't an issue of Iran, its an issue of the Iranian Government. The majority of the people don't support this government and are pro American, its the Ayatollah that has created a theological Fascist state, building an army of storm troopers, indoctrination and police state. The people don't have the means to fight back, get shot in the streets, while the storm troopers attack them at home and take away the protesters and put them in jail. We need to arm the population, and let them get rid of the Ayatollah Fascist and his army. Then this all goes away.

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by joesapper February 15, 2012 9:01 AM EST: your right , thumbs up.


by goodness1multiplied February 15, 2012 3:05 AM EST: Big talk. If they attack we should obliterate the whole country.Enough of trying to reason with a crazed egomaniac. Let him throw the first punch.; Reply to this comment


by PlinyTheYounger February 14, 2012 10:03 AM EST: The Iranian threat is overblown. Of course the US and Israel are not going to allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. But the world is a long, long way from that. Keep your shirts on. Sanctions are biting into Iran. Let them work. There is always time for a military attack. Remember the hype-to-war for Iraq, with Rice and others chirping about WMD and the impending mushroom cloud. It was all BS, consciously or unconsciously meant to spur the public into accepting a military action. And what a klauster fooken that turned out to be. No WMD and more American's killed than were killed in Iraq then the 9/11 attacks. So simmer down.; Reply to this comment


by Jim1900 February 13, 2012 12:52 PM EST: We can attack their interests in Iran.; Reply to this comment

by jbenavides1 February 9, 2012 4:20 PM EST

Bring it on and Iran will no longer exist as it does now.

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by american350m February 11, 2012 4:58 PM EST: I and many others are getting fed up with this Iran war speak..no boots on the ground...put bombs on the ground ,no nukes ,just great big fat blockbusters...sooner or later we will have to do it any way,so lets start it for them ..we have proven several times in the last 20 yrs that we will kick butt if we have to..AS THE HERO ON THE 9/11 PLANE SAID..."LETS DO IT"...