Iran Vows To Hit Back If U.S. Attacks

Khamenei Says If Iran Is Attacked It Will Strike U.S. Interests Around The World

(AP)  Iran's supreme leader said Thursday that if the United States were to attack Iran, the country would respond by striking U.S. interests all over the world — the latest sharp exchange in an escalating standoff between the two countries.

The comments by Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came the same day that another top official, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Javad Zarif, warned in a column in The New York Times that efforts to isolate Iran would simply backfire on the United States, increasing sectarian tensions in the volatile Middle East, including Iraq.

The United States and Iran have been in an increasingly tense standoff over Iran's nuclear program. The tensions have worsened recently because of U.S. allegations of Iranian influence in Iraq.

The United States has denied it has any plans to strike Iran militarily but has sent an additional aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf in what U.S. officials call an effort to show strength in the face of rising Iranian regional influence.

Speaking to a gathering of Iranian air force commanders, Khamenei said: "The enemy knows well that any invasion would be followed by a comprehensive reaction to the invaders and their interests all over the world."

In another sign of the tensions, Iran's intelligence minister also said Thursday the government had detected a network of U.S and Israeli spies, and had detained a second group of people who planned to go abroad for espionage training, state television reported. It gave few details.

The allegation comes just a few days after an Iranian diplomat was detained in Baghdad, Iraq, in an incident that Iran blamed on U.S. forces. The Americans have denied involvement in the diplomat's detention.

Iranian leaders often speak of a crushing response to any U.S. attack. While the remarks are seen as an attempt to drum up national support, Iran's position on Iraq and its nuclear program has provoked harsher international and especially U.S. pressure in recent months.

President Bush has ordered American troops to act against Iranians suspected of being involved in the Iraqi insurgency in addition to deploying the second carrier. The U.N. Security Council has imposed sanctions because of Iran's refusal to cease uranium enrichment, and is due to consider strengthening later this month.

"Some people say that the U.S. president is not prone to calculating the consequences of his actions," Khamenei said in remarks broadcast on state television, "but it is possible to bring this kind of person to wisdom."

"U.S. policymakers and analysts know that the Iranian nation would not let an invasion go without a response," Khamenei added.

Last week, a publication called Sobh-e Sadegh, the official publication of Iran's elite and hardline Revolutionary Guards, also warned against American attacks, pointing out that because the U.S. has large numbers of troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, central Asia and Europe, it would be easy to kidnap Americans in retaliation.

In his talk Thursday, Khamenei also addressed rumors about his health — a subject that is rarely discussed openly in Iran. Last month, there was speculation that his health had deteriorated seriously.

"Enemies of the Islamic system fabricated various rumors about death and health to demoralize the Iranian nation, but they did not know that they are not dealing with only one person in Iran. They are facing a nation," Khamenei said.

[j-whitman]

--I'ts a good thing Iran doesn't take the Bush strategy of Prentive Strike --- We no longer have the military capabilities for an Iran victory, and 2 carrier groups in the Persian Gulf with little room for maneuvers.

[lars008-2009]

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[nil_athelion]

Concerning carpetbombing: I said it was theoretical possiblity, not a practical one. It would be a political death sentence to the US as we know it, due to economic sanctions on a scale that would ruin the current economy.

However, that would be little comfort to the people being nuked. It's similar to the mutual anhilation of the cold war era, except that all the launch buttons are on the US side. There's almost no chance of it logically happening, but the possibity is so horrible that Iran can't help but worry about it, and plan with that as a threat.

[johnshaft4]

If the Iranians launch a conterattack against US domestic 'interests' lets hope and pray for this "wish list": 1) Fox 'News' Headquarters 2) offices of the "Weekly Standard" 3 PNAC offices 4)AEI & AIPAC Offices 5) 700 Club/CBN,Pat Robertson 6) anything related to rap "music" and 7) producers of late night, get rich quick "infomercials"...If they'll do this, I'll greet them as liberators!

[antoniof123]

Carpet bombing would work however, you must be ready for the death toll. It would reach every part of the country and the world would be appalled. However, like I said if you can stomach the death than yes carpet bombing would work you would destroy them all.

[jairod]

The paper lion speaks. Anything Iran has to say is as useless as used toilet paper. Haven't we learned that their primary stategy is to scream as loudly as they can. It doesn't matter what they say: it's the screaming that counts. They do an awful lot of it. If they are so tuff, why did they have to throw in eight year old boys and eighty year old men in their war against Iraq? If they are so right, what are they waiting for? Do something then talk about it. The fact is is that all they can do is scream for they have no substance to share with their Islamic community. To be tuff is to scream the loudest. Have you ever tried to keep an even tone in an arguement with one of these Arabs recently arrived from that area? It is impossible. Where they come from the one that screams the loudest is the winner of the arguement. So, why do we even listen? Ignore what they say: just watch what they do.

[dallison7]

I am so afraid that this maniac will decide to attack Iran and finally open up the floodgates to Hell, because that's exactly what will happen.
Posted by jjreding

That certainly appears to be the dear leader... I mean the decider's plan.

[nil_athelion]

In response to the other first two coments:

Yes, he is talking about killing. However, his purpose in saying what he does is to prevent killing - to avoid a total war. Whether the war is nuclear or conventional, Iran will lose. This provides an incentive for the US to start a total war, and disincentive for Iran to provoke an outright attack. Within this context, it is easy to see why he MUST convince the US that starting a war is not worth it.

The usage of nuclear weapons, as the second poster point out, is a theoretical option for the US government. While strength of three nuclear weapons that would destroy Iran would have fallout reaching into friendy countries, carpet bombing with smaller nuclear weapons would keep the fall-out radius within Iran.

That said, it's easy to see a simple solution to it: Moving the capability to strike back into other countries in the form of splinter cells, or more broadly via allying with the international terrorist groups. Given Khamenei's description of the retaliation, this seems to be the case.

[jjreding-2009]

More smoke and mirrors from the Bush regime. This becomes more and more like deja vu all over again, as the warhawks in Washington beat the drums to rile up the people. I am so afraid that this maniac will decide to attack Iran and finally open up the floodgates to Hell, because that's exactly what will happen.

[acefadel]

And thats their religious guy talking about killing. When will they talk about peace for all ?? Oh well, if its not in their religion how can the praise it? At the end of the day, you should NOT allow a cat to grow into a lion because it will be harder for you to defend yourself...... These guys feed from hate and death, we cannt change them. It is time for a regeim change in Iran no matter how much that will cost orelse a day will come when they will change regeims all over the world. Hit em while you can and let god sort em out...