Iranian armed forces urged to prepare for probable foreign threats

["Nello Margiotta" <animarg@tin.it>]

08.04.2003 [00:45]

  http://www.iraqwar.ru


Iranian army chief Major General Mohammad Salimi Monday called on the armed
forces to get prepared to confront any probable foreign threats, the
official IRNA news agency said.
Speaking to a group of army cadets and their trainers, Salimi said "the
armed forces, especially students of higher military science courses, must
be ready to confront any probable threats andattacks of aliens."
??He stressed Iran had not been safe from global and regional crisis so far
and its northern, western and eastern neighbors have been attacked.
??"We are being threatened and this leaves no other alternative than for our
armed forces to get totally prepared and remain vigilant," Salimi said.
??He asked Iranian commanders to "make scientific and tactical exploitation
from the prevailing situation in the region and maintain their optimal
preparedness by examining military issues ofthe warring countries and
identifying their weak and strong points."
??Iran is among the staunchest opponents of the ongoing US-led waron Iraq
and has taken a position of "active neutrality", saying it will not back one
side or the other in the warfare.
??But some of Iranian officials have occasionally warned of the USplans to
look beyond Iraq after doing its job against the regime of Saddam Hussein.