Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Iran Defense Chief Warns against Attack on Iran

Iran's Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi
Tehran. 19 January 2010. Fars photo

Iran Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi warned the West that the Islamic Republic’s armed forces would hit the Western naval fleet in the Persian Gulf if its nuclear installations were attacked. Gen. Ahmadi also warned Israel that Tehran would hit Israeli nuclear installations if Israel starts an attack against the Iranian nuclear facilities [Fars News Agency, 20 January].

Gen. Vahidi’s warnings, during an address delivered at19th International Conference on the Persian Gulf in Tehran on Tuesday, contained the most direct and toughest language used by a senior Iranian military official on Iranian retaliatory responses if attacked.

3 comments:

Mark Pyruz said...

Well, he identified potential targeting as a response to US military aggression against Iran. In terms of "tough language", it was fairly vague yet obvious at the same time. I've certainly heard more flowery bravado from other high ranking Iranian military officials. By comparison, Def. Min. Vahidi appears to be a more straightforward type of no nonsense General:

More significantly, he also stated the following:

"Our weapons are merely for deterring those powers that think they can wage an attack on Iran."

"We have announced that our defensive doctrine is based on deterrence, That is exactly unlike the US preemptive doctrine which is an aggressive and offensive doctrine."

"Our doctrine conveys no message but peace with regional countries, and we have repeatedly announced that we consider none of the regional countries as a threat to us."

Nader Uskowi said...

Mark,

Mark,

Gen. Vahidi's no-nonesense approach is what makes it "tough." He is not offering flowery bravado, and he meant to be understood as tough on the issue. It is refreshing to see a senior leader offering a straightforward scenario in response to an attack on the country.

Of course Vahidi talked about Iran's military doctrine. But what made his address to the conference newsworthy was not the explanation of this doctrine, but his straightforward discussion of what Iran would do in response to an attack.

What is your take on this subject? Do you believe what Vahidi says is the the planned response to an attack, or is it part of an information ops by Iran's military?

Anonymous said...

Well,I do seriosly believe with Gen.vahidi's straightforward statements.Of course,it was not a kind of flowery bravado words.