Ahmadinejad: We'll break enemies' hands before they pull trigger

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned Sunday that "if anyone dares invade Iran's territory or damage its legal interests, our armed forces will break their hands before they can pull the trigger."

Speaking at a military parade marking 28 years since the Iran-Iraq War, Ahmadinejad stated that Iran "aspires for peace, but it is not in any position to be even a little lenient to the thugs that are its enemies."

In light of the fear of an airstrike on its nuclear facilities, Tehran held last week a wide-scale antiaircraft forces' exercise.

General Ahmad Mighani of the Iranian air force, was quoted by the Fars news agency as saying that "if Iran is attacked, it will deliver a crushing blow to the enemy…We will surprise the enemy and make them regret they attacked."

Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said that the drill, held by the air force and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, was meant to improve the "defensive, tactical and operational abilities of the forces."

Ahmadinajed explained to his listeners on Sunday why Iran is being isolated by the world. "The enemies' psychological war is the result of their fear and is aimed at maintaining their front," he claimed.

He went on to say that the economic sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic after it refused to suspend its nuclear plan were inefficient. "Iran's armed forces can provide all they need for defense and deterrence."

Iran was expected to present its ground-to-ground missiles during the parade, including three Shahab missiles capable of reaching Israel. Last week it was reported that Tehran was working to modify the missile cone to fit a nuclear bomb.

Later Sunday, the Iranian president is expected to leave for New York in order to attend the United Nations General Assembly. His planned visited has sparked a row in the United States.

A planned rally against Ahmadinejad's visit has raised tensions in the US election campaign, after Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin were both invited to attend.