A high-ranking Iranian military official said on Tuesday that Iran would strike first if it felt threatened, adding it could deal with Israel if it needed to.
Deputy commander of the Iranian army Maj.-Gen. Mohammad Hejazi told the Iranian news agency Fars that Iran would not wait until it was attacked to take action.
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Hejazi said the strategy was clear — defending Iran’s national interests. If those interests need to be protected by using military force they would be, he added.
The Iranian general said Iran could handle “the stupid Zionist regime.”
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The statements were made as Iran continues its military maneuvers, focusing on its air defense systems, and amid speculations about a possible Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear targets.
Earlier Tuesday Tehran laid out conditions for future oil exports to European countries after halting sales to Britain and France earlier this week.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday that Iran seeks guarantees of payments, long term contracts and a ban on unilateral cancellation of contracts by buyers.
He says all these should be considered if Europe wants continued trade and oil relations.
Mehmanparast says Iran’s conditions were conveyed in a meeting with ambassadors of six European countries in Tehran.
Tehran said Monday it was considering extending the oil embargo to other European countries. The cutoffs to France and Britain were in retaliation for an EU embargo over Tehran’s controversial nuclear program that is to go into effect in July.
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