Ahmadinejad extols Iran's military strength
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today extolled Iran's military might during an annual army parade, saying the country is so powerful that no one would dare attack it.
The parade in Tehran showcased Iran's surface-to-surface Ghadr, Sajjil and Shahab-3 missiles, which have a range of up to 1,250 miles that puts Israel and US bases in the region within Iran's reach.
The Shahab-3 missile is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Although Tehran doesn't have one, this has been a source for Western concerns along with Iran's controversial uranium enrichment program, which the international community fears masks ambitions for an atomic bomb.
"Today, our armed forces have so much power that no enemy will harbour evil thoughts about laying its hands on Iranian territory," Ahmadinejad said at the parade marking National Army Day. The speech was broadcast live on state TV, which also showed segments of the parade.
Ahmadinejad also urged the US to stop supporting Israel and to dismantle the American military presence in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Tehran sees American troops on its doorstep in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf as a threat, and Ahmadinejad reiterated his allegations that the US presence is the source of the region's instability.
"They have to leave our region, this is not a request, it is an order from the nations of the region. It is the will of the regional nations," said Ahmadinejad. "If they are interested in helping the security of the region, they have to dismantle their military presence in the region and stop supporting Israel."
The US has been pressing for a new round of international sanctions against Iran after Tehran spurned President Barack Obama's offer for dialogue over its accelerated nuclear development.
The administration has pursued what it calls "pressure track" - a combination of stepped-up military activity in Iran's neighbourhood and sanctions that would pinch Iran economically.
But, according to a report by The New York Times today, a January memo from US Defence Secretary Robert Gates to the White House warned that the US lacks a nimble long-term plan for dealing with Iran's nuclear program.
Gates' three-page memo set off efforts in the Pentagon, White House and intelligence agencies to come up with new options, including the use of the military, the Times said, quoting unnamed government officials.
However, White House officials last night strongly disagreed the memo caused a reconsideration of the US approach to Iran.
"It is absolutely false that any memo touched off a reassessment of our options," said National Security Council spokesman Benjamin Rhodes. "This administration has been planning for all contingencies regarding Iran for many months."
Iran launched an arms development program during its 1980-88 war with Iraq to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armoured personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes.
Tehran has been also looking to upgrade its defences, especially as Israel has refused to rule out an airstrike over concerns that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. Tehran claims its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, such as electricity production
Iranian news agencies reported that today's parade also displayed an air defence system similar to Russian-made S-300, which is capable of shooting down aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missile warheads at ranges of over 90 miles and at altitudes of about 90,000ft.
Iran ordered Russia's advanced S-300 air defence system in 2007 but none have been delivered, allegedly due to technical glitches, though many believe the delay stems from international opposition to the sale.
