Iran 'ready for combat'

2004-07-28 15:39

Tehran - The head of the Iranian army's ground forces said on Wednesday that his troops were "combat ready" and possessed a "martyrdom-seeking spirit", the official news agency IRNA reported.

"The armed forces must show their combat readiness and martydom-seeking spirit to the enemies," Brigadier General Naser Mohammadifar was quoted as saying during a military ceremony in the northwestern city of Tabriz.

"We can stand up to internal and external enemies in light of unity," he said.

The term "enemies" is frequently used here to refer to the United States and Israel.

In recent weeks, Iranian officials have been upping their warnings to the pair, amid speculation that Israel - which fears the Islamic republic is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons - is considering attacking Iran's nuclear facilities.

On Tuesday, the deputy head of the Iranian parliament's influential foreign policy and national security commission, Mohamoud Mohammadi, said: "We don't consider their threats to be serious, because they know that any action against our national interests will be met with a decisive response."

And on Monday, a spokesperson for Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards said Iran will wipe Israel "off the face of the earth" if it dares to attack.

- AFP