guardian - November 26 2011 Iran will target NATO's missile defense installations in Turkey if the U.S. or Israel attacks the Islamic Republic, a senior commander of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard said Saturday. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guards' aerospace division, said the warning is part of a new defense strategy to counter what he described as an increase in threats from the U.S. and Israel. Tensions have been rising between Iran and the West since the release of a report earlier this month by the International Atomic Energy Agency that said for the first time that Tehran was suspected of conducting secret experiments whose sole purpose was the development of nuclear arms. The U.S. and its Western allies suspect Iran of trying to produce atomic weapons, and Israel, which views Tehran as an existential threat, has warned of a possible strike on Iran's nuclear program. Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes. "Should we be threatened, we will target NATO's missile defense shield in Turkey and then hit the next targets," the semiofficial Mehr news agency quoted Hajizadeh as saying. Tehran says NATO's early warning radar station in Turkey is meant to protect Israel against Iranian missile attacks if a war breaks out with the Jewish state. Ankara agreed to host the radar in September as part of NATO's missile defense system aimed at countering ballistic missile threats from neighboring Iran. A military installation in the Turkish town of Kurecik, some 435 miles (700 kilometers) west of the Iranian border, has been designated as the radar site, according to Turkish government officials. Hajizadeh said the United States also plans to install similar stations in Arab states south of Iran. He said increasing threats has made Iran alter it military defense strategy. "Based on orders from the exalted commander in chief, we will respond to threats with threats," he was quoted as saying. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters, is also commander in chief of Iran's armed forces. Also Saturday, the chief of Iran's elite Quds Force said he doesn't fear assassination and is ready for "martyrdom." He warned Washington of serious consequences if it does not stop threatening the Islamic Republic. The comments by Quds Force commander Brig. Gen. Ghassem Soleimani were published in several Iranian newspapers. The Quds Force is the special foreign operations unit of the country's powerful Revolutionary Guard, and Soleimani is a key figure in Iran's military establishment but rarely speaks in public. "Oh, God, bestow upon me martyrdom in Your path by the hands of enemies ... The U.S. must know that when a glass is broken, it becomes sharper," he told a gathering of militiamen in the southeastern Iranian town of Kerman. Tensions have increased in recent weeks between Iran and the U.S., with several American neoconservatives urging the Obama administration to use covert action against Iran and kill some of its top officials, including Soleimani. The force has been accused by the Americans of involvement in an alleged plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington. Two men, including an alleged member of Iran's Quds Force, have been charged in New York federal court in the case. Iran has dismissed the American claims as a "foolish plot", saying U.S. officials have offered no proof. November/26/2011 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9966163
Amazing ME, Iran hates Turkey and the KurdsTurkey hates Syria, Iran and the Kurds Syria hates Turkey and the KurdsNothing changed for the Kurds. Turks, Arabs, and Iranians all hate each other, yet they agree on one thing, hating Kurds. Only Kurdish unity can make the difference!
If anyone attacks Iran it will be Saudi and Gulf oil fields that get blown up first. Make no mistake about that. They will be the first targets.
Come on, get real. Iran will not be attacked, Iranian nuclear sites will be bombed into the stone age. But if Iran so much as sneezes in retaliation all its non-nuclear military sites will be wiped out in a Tehran minute.
the thing is the mullahs will retaliate if their nuke sites are bombed , abd turkey will be hit first.
Sounds like the Israeli threats.. It you have a problem bomb a third party. BTW.. Turkey buys lots of gas from Iran. This guy says Israel will bomb all the cities in Europe. http://www.politicalforum.com/current-events/220360-israeli-military-historian-martin-creveld.html
As a Turkish ,let me guys say out my objective insight into this subject.For decades ,Turkey has been acting as the overseas guard of the US and in any occassions Turkish officials have admitted this.US has this Big Middle EAStern project for long time in order to seize the oil wells in the area and reap the benefit out of them by enabling the US and British oil giants to gain the rights of drilling.It s no surprise that the withdrawal of US and British troops coincided with the finalization of the contracts which have resulted in US and British oil companies' victories. Turkey ,not saying never ,but will be very hardly able to get out of its elder brother's words and do something contrary to his interests.The tension arose recently between Turkey and Israel is jsut show-off to outside world ,especially to Arab countries and Iran and a part of a well played scenario.With the existence of this artificial conflict, the sympathy of IRan and Arab nations have been gained in Turkey and it needed that in order to maintain its economical growth and enhance the bilateral trade ties.But Turkey actually has never been friends with ARab nations or Iran,If you look at the recent proceedings,Turkey has started warning the Esad regime in Syria about their management of the country and increased the dosage to the extent of threatening.But these two countries ,not long ago ,just 2 years ago lifted the visa requirements for each others citizens' short stays and signed a trade agreement that includes two other Arab countries...This clearly shows that ,Turkey is now rephrasing what US has told him to convey to Syria.. US'mission in the Middle East is not over yet and will continue until it reaches the planned end.It will continue restructring the governmetns of the region so that they will adhere to the rules of US and will open the doors for easy contracts for oil and other resources.As a rising power and an ally(!) of the US in the region, Turkey will support US and let it use the air bases and most probably land bases if an attack on Iran is rendered.Same thing applies to Syria.US wont allow Iran to hit bust Turkey as it wouldnt want its biggest ally and logistical provider get damaged.. Hitting Iran will not be an easy task for US due to the toughness of terriotory and size of Iranian army and believe will result in severe consequences for US .However ,despite the dire results , I have the confidence that it will come out with triumph.It is not only due to its enormous army or strong war technology but also Iran has its serious interior problems such as the secular people who are against and overwhelmed under the Tehran regime and the Azeribaijan Turks ,numbering around 30 mill., who have been looking for independence..So in case of a breakdown in Tehran,the existence of the aforementioned two will exacerbate the situation for the Tehran government.. If one considers the above situation,a hard job is waiting for Iran govt and army.We will wait and see..
Syria is not considered much among the Arab world , its looked at as an Iranian tool so worsening the relations with Syria but Turkey doesn't mean much for the Arab world but makes Iran more angry as Syria is a strategic partner of Iran in the region .
well Iran vs Turkey alone its like a fight between a lion and a tiger ... but US and Israel that's another story .
Lol, what makes you so pleased? Iran surely knows it can't survive versus Turkey, United States and other NATO countries plus Israel.
well i am pleased cos finally the anti-kurd regimes who have been oppressors of kurds for decades are at each others throats , gotta be pleased about that .
