Iran vows decisive response to any aggression

Tehran, Nov 17: Iran will respond decisively to any act of aggression by the United States or Israel, Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar told state television today.

The United States and Israel are the most vocal critics of Iran, which they accuse of developing a nuclear weapons capability in secret and sponsoring terrorist groups. Iran denies the charges.

''If the Americans or Zionists intend to do anything against the sacred Islamic Republic establishment, our armed forces will give them a crushing and decisive response,'' Mohammad Najjar said. Iranian officials call Israel the ''Zionist Regime''.

''It (the response) will make them regret their act for eternity,'' Najjar said.

Iran's armed forces have carried out three war games in the last year, which have included tests of medium-range ballistic missiles that can reach Israel or U.S. bases in the Gulf.

''The war games that we witness every day are signs of maximum preparedness of the armed forces based on domestic capabilities,'' Najjar said.

Iranian officials insist the country's military capabilities are purely defensive and that they have no intention of attacking another country, including Israel, without provocation.

REUTERS