Missiles Ready For Retaliation, Iran Says

Telegraph:

The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards has warned America and Britain that Teheran will respond with its missiles if attacked over the ongoing crisis surrounding its nuclear capability. "The world knows Iran has a ballistic missile power with a range of 2,000 kilometres (1,300 miles)," Gen Yahya Rahim Safavi said on state-run television. READ MORE

"We have no intention to invade any country. We will take effective defence measures if attacked. These missiles are in the possession of the Guards."

Iran has sparked renewed international concern over its ambitions by announcing it was resuming work at its Natanz uranium enrichment facility.

There is growing pressure to refer Iran to the UN Security Council, but American Senator John McCain said yesterday that it was important to maintain the "leverage" of the military option.

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, rejected talk of military action against Iran, saying it was "not on the table".

Mr Straw was speaking ahead of talks with Mohamed El-Baradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There is not a military option. There certainly is not one on the table, let's be clear about that. And no-one is talking about it.

"I have never had a discussion with any senior American from the very top downwards, except to say the military option is not on the table."

Iran's Revolutionary Guards are a separate organization from the regular armed forces, with their own air, naval and ground components.

Iran insists its nuclear facilities are to provide energy, but other countries fear it is trying to develop a capability to make nuclear weapons.