TEHRAN // Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged the country’s armed forces on Sunday to increase their “defensive preparedness”, hitting out at a US warning of possible military action.
He told commanders and troops in a speech that Iran “will never accept such stupid remarks”, a jab at General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, though he did not name him.
Gen Dempsey said on Thursday that should ongoing diplomacy with Iran fail, “the military option ... to ensure that Iran does not achieve a nuclear weapon is intact”.
The United States has long said targeted bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites and other key facilities may be needed if Tehran — which denies seeking the bomb — does not rein in its atomic activities.
“All bodies from the ministry of defence to the army and the Sepah [Revolutionary Guards] should increase their military and defensive preparedness. This should be regarded as an official directive,” Mr Khamenei said.
His response comes after Iran and six world powers led by the US agreed on April 2 on the key parameters of a nuclear deal, the hard details of which are due to be agreed by the end of June.
Despite significant progress, the two sides still disagree on several issues, including how quickly international sanctions would be lifted under a final deal. Negotiations will resume in Vienna this week.
“After a period of silence by the other side, one of its officials has once again recently talked of options on the table,” Mr Khamenei said.
“On the one hand they bluff, and on the other hand, they say the Islamic Republic of Iran should halt its defensive advancements which is a stupid remark.
“Iran will never accept such stupid remarks and the nation has proved that if it is attacked, it will defend itself quite powerfully. It will stand united and like a strong fist against illogical aggressors.”
Mr Khamenei also said on Sunday the US had created the “myth” of nuclear weapons to portray Iran as a threat, hardening his rhetoric before nuclear negotiations resume this week.
Mr Khamenei has supported the talks but has continued to express deep mistrust of the US. As the highest authority in Iran, the withdrawal of his support could cause the negotiations to collapse.
“They created the myth of nuclear weapons so they could say the Islamic Republic is a source of threat. No, the source of threat is America itself,” Mr Khamenei said.
“The other side is methodically and shamelessly threatening us militarily ... even if they did not make these overt threats, we would have to be prepared,” he said.
* Agence France-Presse, Reuters
