Iran prepares to strike back if attacked

Maryland Leader (IANS) Sunday 5th February, 2012

Iran would strike back at any location from where attacks against it were mounted and was preparing itself against western plans aimed at mounting pressure on it, Fars news agency reported Sunday.

"Any location which is used by the enemy for raids against the Islamic republic will be targeted by the IRGC forces," Xinhua quoted Fars news agency citing Hossein Salami, the deputy head of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

Salami made the remarks during IRGC's military drills near Iran's southern waters.

On Saturday, the IRGC announced that the country started "Hamiane Velayat" (supporters of Velayat) military drills in southern Iran. There were, however, no reports on the exact location and duration of the drill.

Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi has also said that Tehran is preparing itself to counter all western plans aimed at mounting pressure on the country, the Press TV reported Sunday.

"Tehran is examining even the worst-case scenarios and preparing itself to counteract them," Salehi was quoted as saying.

Iran has, however, said that its exercises in the southern waters or near the area are aimed at maintaining readiness to confront threats in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for oil exports.

Tehran has threatened to close the strait if it couldn't sell its oil in the face of Western sanctions on the oil exports.