Ahmadinejad warns against any attack on Iran
During military parade marking start of war with Iraq in 1980, Iranian president says armed forces 'will cut off the hands of any attackers before they pull the trigger.' During air show plane crashes south of Tehran, killing seven
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a military parade in Tehran on Tuesday Iran would "cut off the hands" of anyone who attacked the country.
"Iranian armed forces will cut off the hands of any attackers before they pull the trigger," he said in an address at a parade broadcast on state television to mark the start of the Iran-Iraq war in September 1980.
"No power in the world is daring enough to attack Iran as we are more experienced and powerful than ever," Ahmadinejad said.
The United States and its allies are seeking to intensify UN sanctions on Iran over the Islamic country's disputed nuclear program, which the West fears is intended to build nuclear weapons. Iran has repeatedly denied this.
Iran has repeatedly condemned the military presence of the US and its allies in neighboring countries.
"The roots of all conflicts in the region is the presence of foreign troops," Ahmadinejad said.
Washington and Israel do not rule out military action against Iran over the nuclear issue.
Tehran will hold talks on October 1 with major powers worried about the Islamic Republic's nuclear strategy.
During the military parade an Iranian military plane crashed south of Tehran, killing seven people.
The official IRNA news agency said the plane crashed into farmlands just outside the Iranian capital during an exhibition flight that was part of the parade. It was unclear if all of the casualties were on board the plane.
Various types of Iranian military planes took part in Tuesday's show, including US made jet fighters and bombers, Russian-made MiG-29, Sukhoi 24 as well as Iranian Saeqeh, or Thunderbolt.
Reuters, AP contributed to the report
