Israel war on Iran ‘will eventually happen’: Guards chief
"War will happen but it is not certain where and when," General Mohammad Ali Jafari said, according to the ISNA and Fars news agencies.
"The shameful and cancerous tumour that is Israel is seeking war against us, but it is not known when that war will happen. They now consider war as the only way to confront us, but they are so stupid that their (US) masters should stop them," he said, speaking during an armed forces exhibition in Tehran.
"If they begin (aggression), it will spell their destruction and will be the end of the story," he said.
"This (war) will eventually happen as the (Islamic) revolution is moving rapidly towards its goals, and they cannot tolerate this. And finally, they will impose a war situation."
The comments were the first time Iran has acknowledged the probability of open armed conflict with Israel. Previously, it has dismissed such a scenario as bluff on the part of Israel's leaders.
Tensions, though, have risen significantly in recent weeks, with Israel threatening to unleash air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Israel believes Iran's nuclear programme to be aimed at developing an atomic weapons capability that would menace its own existence, and its current status as the Middle East's sole, if undeclared, nuclear weapons power.
Iran insists its programme is exclusively for peaceful, civilian ends, but it is locked in a deepening standoff with the UN nuclear watchdog and the UN Security Council over the issue.
Jafari said that, "even if they (the Israelis) act rationally, this incident will happen."
He added: "Everyone knows that they cannot confront the power of the Islamic republic ... But there is no guarantee of rationality, and it is possible that they will go crazy" and attack.
He said a war with Israel would contrast with Iran's last war, the 1980-1988 conflict with Iraq that was characterised by invasion and counter-invasion by massed ground troops.
"We should use the experience of the sacred defence (during the Iran-Iraq war) to prepare for the future war, because its nature will be very different from the previous war," he said.
Fars quoted Jafari as saying that "we are putting all of our efforts into boosting our (military) capability so that, if an aggression occurs, we can defend ourselves and those who need our help."
He added: "We have become more serious in the face of the threats of the enemy against our country."
Jafari's abrupt public recognition of the seriousness of the Israeli threat came against the backdrop of military deployments by Iran, Israel and the Jewish state's ally, Washington.
Iran has held several war games this year, including one pointedly showing its abilities to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf to oil tanker traffic should it be attacked.
In an annual military parade on Friday, it also displayed several of its missiles, including ballistic weapons capable of striking Israel.
Israel on Wednesday staged a surprise drill on the country's northern border with Syria, Iran's beleaguered ally. Next month it is to hold missile defence exercises with US forces.
The United States, meanwhile, is leading 30-nation navy manoeuvres in the Gulf and has deployed a squadron of its top-end F-22 Raptor fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates.
In a September 16 news conference, Jafari said Iran's "declared policy" was to close the Strait of Hormuz if the country came under attack.
He also said that retaliation would target US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates because any Israeli attack could not be carried out "without US permission."
COMMENTS (18)
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@JoeyAndtheGreatPumpkin: .. This is a laugh!Iran thinks it can take out a jewish state that was founded on God? ,,
You sound as Cristian or Jewish extremist person.
All religions from middle east mess up followers minds by saying they are gods special favoured children. If there is God, he/she loves or hates all people same way. No one people is special. All people special.
In a family will father/mother not treat all children equally ? Why will god treat Muslim not same as Jew ? Some children call father - papa, baba, father, etc - just like Allah, Bhagwan, Wah Guru - different names for father. Father will say call me anyway you like - it does not matter.
People please realise this.
This has been confirmed and proven in the near past given statements by US' and Israel's officials statements that Israel is zero without US' aid and assistance and shall never think about to attack on Iran without US' backup and support and US' would never like to do so because now US' has been in the position in which US' can never experience any war once again against Iran because USA is already facing heavy and huge losses in any forms and manifestations in Afghanistan.......
What Jafari has said is verified by Dr. Vered’s recent study, which sees Israel's existence as a wrong that must be corrected for the sake of world redemption and the achievement of this goal will only be possible once Israel is annihilated. According to the study, the Iranians will continue fighting this war, as much as it is up to them, until they achieve their objective, despite the heavy toll that will be exacted in battle.
Israel should not think for adventure with Iran,already Israel has lot of hate in the Muslim world, and US will not come to protect her. If Isreal has concern on Iran;s nuclear Iran has the same then why America has oncern on Iran's nuclear. The reality is Iran will not tolerate aggression and ultimately Israel-US both will pay the price.
@Azad Ever heard of the Persian Empire?? Ever heard of the Persians kicking Byzantines out. You need History lessons! And Arabs? This is laughable.
This gentleman must have arranged a very secured hide out for himself. When time comes, these leaders leave their people on the mercy of the enemy and hide in caves and holes.
@Azad:
Iran still is much better off than Pakistan tho. They are always united in defense. Pakistanis live to kill their own people and destroy their own country.
@JoeyAndtheGreatPumpkin:
This is a laugh!Iran thinks it can take out a jewish state that was founded on God? It says in scripture anyone who dares to destroy Israel wil have sulphur and fire rained down on them. Not only that but they themselves will be destroyed as a nation. People will know that Israels God does not sleep
may i add sir, that the jewish state was not attained because of your god, but because of the continuous efforts of your secular, enterprenuer type zionist jews. and, the day you loose them, your god and book would be burried 5 feet under by the muslim neighbours.
so, give the credit, where it is due: zionists, and not to a god, who silently saw massacre of 6 million of it's most beloved creations, and their ridicule for over two millinea.
@Naeem Khan: If you hate the US so much, why are you living there?
Does General Jaffri really think that the Jewish state will sit back and watch itself being destroyed? Israel will use its nuclear option against Iran in the case of this eventuality. Iran has no first and let alone second nuclear strike capability. Wars are created when nations underestimate response of their opponents. World war two started when Hitler pushed the allies over the edge by invading Poland . He banked on the premise that allies would accept his actions as fait accompli . It seems that Iran has developed a death wish to go down in flames as shaheed in the glory of its god
@ naeem Khan , why making castle in the air ,
Iran has been defeated nation for centuries. It was conquered successively by Arabs, Europeans and Russians. It has developed a tendency to hyperbole, exaggeration and boasting in substitute for its deep insecurities
Iran showing a red flag to two bulls US and Israel at a time is asking for double trouble and that too in the year 2012 during which predictions of doom and gloom are in circulation throughout the world, makes it more scary.
And then the Americans wonder why the Islamic world hate them so much and the time is coming when countries like Iran could stand up to the Super Power which they are already doing, Amerian satraps in the gulf region better watch it because there will be repercussion for waging war in cahoots with the Americans and Israelis. It seems Americans and their client States are bent on destabilizing the middle and near East, Saudis and Jordanians dictatorships will scummed to the will of the people when this fire spreads to engulf the area and Israelis will not be able to escape the consequences.
world will never allow it to happen . No one will be allowed to develop potential to wipe out Israeil from the map .
Mother of all battles eh? We heard that one before and we all know what happened to the guy who said that.