Iran will “cut off the hand” of any invader

April 22, 2008
Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN – A top military commander declared on Monday that Iran will deliver a severe blow to any country which dares invade the country.

“We will cut off the hand of invaders with the slightest attack on the country,” Army Commander Major General Ataollah Salehi told a graduation ceremony of military cadets here on Monday.

The general praised the self-confidence and the high spirit of the Iranian armed forces.

“Now, our Islamic system, its powerful leader, the armed forces, and the Iranian people are self-confident and strong and this is the greatest power in the world,” Salehi remarked.

However, he said, the enemy is very “distressed” despite having so much modern equipment. “They have all the equipment but they are timid.”

The commander added neither Iran nor the enemy can “hide” their military power from each other “but the armed capability becomes more efficient with successful and faithful persons.”

He went on to say that the enemy in fact occupied some of the neighboring countries in order “wipe out” Iran but it could not.

“Now, we are in a situation that the enemy has occupied neighboring countries (of Iraq and Afghanistan) and have surrounded us. It planned to wipe out the Islamic country of Iran by targeting mock enemies such as Taliban and Saddam but it could not.