Iran’s Top Commander Cautions US against Blocking Talks

 (FNA)- Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi downplayed US Secretary of State John Kerry’s war rhetoric against Iran, and advised Washington not to spoil the trend of the talks with Tehran by such “cheap and unworthy” remarks.

“Recently, the Americans made an obvious mistake and they threatened the revolutionary people of Iran with military option,” Firouzabadi said, addressing a number of Iranian commanders in Tehran on Tuesday.

He called on the US officials to return to the past and ask their predecessors why their country couldn’t materialize its threats against Iran despite abundant threats and sufficient tools and equipment.

Firouzabadi warned that the Iranian nation “is prepared completely to foil any US sedition and make those threatening it regret” their words and actions.

He advised the Americans to pursue the path of diplomacy based on the Geneva agreement, and avoid blocking the path of negotiations through such “cheap and hollow” words.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said in an interview in Geneva on Thursday that the military option was still on the table if Iran did not live up to its nuclear commitments under the Geneva deal.

A growing number of Iranian officials have rushed to warn Kerry and other Washington officials to avoid sabre-rattling remarks against Tehran.

In one of those reactions, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani rapped the US Secretary of State for his military threats against Iran amid diplomatic efforts to settle the differences between Tehran and the world powers, and said the parliament increases the country's military budget in response to Washington’s continued war rhetoric.

“Today, you heard Kerry’s remarks and saw his sabre-rattling against the Islamic Republic of Iran and we should fully understand this sensitivity and take practical measures against it,” Larijani said, addressing the Iranian lawmakers on Saturday evening.

Stressing that the US Secretary of State's remarks needs a pragmatic response, he said Iran would increase its military budget in response and to defend the country against possible threats.
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari also slammed Kerry's remarks, and underlined that the Iranian nation will give the most crushing response to any possible aggression by the enemies.

"You could never understand the extent of the invasive capacity of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Major General Jafari stressed on Saturday.

"Mr. Kerry must know that direct battle with the US is the biggest dream of pious and revolutionary people across the world. Your threats offer our revolutionary people the best opportunity,” Jafari underlined.

He added that “wise politicians” in the United States are unlikely to let the “ridiculous military option” remain on the table.

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham said Kerry's recent remarks against Iran are clear breach of the international law and the UN charter.

"These statements (by Kerry) are for consumption of a group of audience of a specific media in the region, but in the meantime it is the violation of international law and the charter of the United Nations," Afkham underlined.

On Friday, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces for Cultural Affairs and Defense Publicity Brigadier General Massoud Jazzayeri downplayed the US and its allies' war rhetoric against Iran, and said they don't dare to attack Iran because they have no hope of victory in such a war.

In response to Kerry's comments, the senior Iranian commander said that the US government knows that the military option against Iran is not practical.

The United States has long stressed that military action is a main option for the White House to deter Iran's progress in the field of nuclear technology.

Iran has warned that in case of an attack by either the US or Israel, it will target 32 American bases in the Middle-East and close the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

An estimated 40 percent of the world's oil supply passes through the waterway.

In November 2013, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei warned Iran’s enemies to avoid even thinking of any aggressive move against the country, stressing that the Iranian Armed Forces are ready to give such a crushing response to any threat that aggressors will never forget.

Addressing 50,000 Basij (volunteer force) commanders in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the preparedness of Iran’s military forces, and said, “The response of the Iranian nation to any foreign aggression will be regrettable for the enemy.”

The Supreme Leader underlined that the increasing threats by the enemy show that the US-led western sanctions have not been effective and they have understood it themselves.

Addressing the arrogant powers, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Instead of threatening other countries, go and deal with your wretched economic conditions and think of you debts.”

The Supreme Leader underlined that the Zionist regime has been imposed on the region, "Anything that is gained with force will not last long and this regime will not last either."