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Iran issues Israel attack warning | Iran issues Israel attack warning |
(2 days later) | |
Iran has drawn up plans to bomb Israel if it launches an attack on Iranian soil first, military officials say. | Iran has drawn up plans to bomb Israel if it launches an attack on Iranian soil first, military officials say. |
The deputy commander of Iran's air force said that in the "unlikely event" of an Israeli attack, Tehran could respond with air and missile raids. | The deputy commander of Iran's air force said that in the "unlikely event" of an Israeli attack, Tehran could respond with air and missile raids. |
Israel's foreign ministry said the comments were alarming and showed that the international community should take a "very firm stance" on Iran. | Israel's foreign ministry said the comments were alarming and showed that the international community should take a "very firm stance" on Iran. |
The US dismissed Iran's remarks as "unhelpful" and "not constructive". | The US dismissed Iran's remarks as "unhelpful" and "not constructive". |
Iran denies the claims by Israel and the West that it is trying to acquire nuclear weapons, insisting it wants nuclear power to generate electricity for civilian use. | Iran denies the claims by Israel and the West that it is trying to acquire nuclear weapons, insisting it wants nuclear power to generate electricity for civilian use. |
'Silly mistake' | 'Silly mistake' |
Both Israel and Washington were responding to the comments made by Iran's air force deputy commander Gen Mohammed Alavi. | Both Israel and Washington were responding to the comments made by Iran's air force deputy commander Gen Mohammed Alavi. |
Gen Alavi said Israel did not pose a serious threat, as it was not capable of launching an aerial attack on Iran. | Gen Alavi said Israel did not pose a serious threat, as it was not capable of launching an aerial attack on Iran. |
"We have drawn up a plan to strike back at Israel with our bombers if this regime [Israel] makes a silly mistake," Gen Alavi told Iran's official news agency Fars in an interview. | "We have drawn up a plan to strike back at Israel with our bombers if this regime [Israel] makes a silly mistake," Gen Alavi told Iran's official news agency Fars in an interview. |
Gen Alavi was speaking just two days after French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned that the world should prepare for war against Tehran over its uranium-enrichment programme. | Gen Alavi was speaking just two days after French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned that the world should prepare for war against Tehran over its uranium-enrichment programme. |
The UN is considering a possible third round of sanctions against Iran if it refuses to end the programme. | The UN is considering a possible third round of sanctions against Iran if it refuses to end the programme. |
Some analysts have speculated that Israel could seek to launch a pre-emptive strike to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities, where Israel and the West believe Tehran is trying to build a nuclear bomb. | |
Israel has done it before. Its air force destroyed Iraq's nuclear facilities in 1981. | Israel has done it before. Its air force destroyed Iraq's nuclear facilities in 1981. |
The US - Israel's ally in the Middle East - has not ruled out military action over the nuclear dispute, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying "all options" are on the table. | The US - Israel's ally in the Middle East - has not ruled out military action over the nuclear dispute, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying "all options" are on the table. |
Washington's contingency plans for air strikes on Iran extend beyond nuclear sites and include most of the country's military infrastructure, diplomatic sources told the BBC earlier this year. | Washington's contingency plans for air strikes on Iran extend beyond nuclear sites and include most of the country's military infrastructure, diplomatic sources told the BBC earlier this year. |
It is understood that any such attack - if ordered - would target Iranian air bases, naval bases, missile facilities and command-and-control centres. | It is understood that any such attack - if ordered - would target Iranian air bases, naval bases, missile facilities and command-and-control centres. |