Iran could attack preemptively, army warns

Iran would take preemptive action against its enemies if its national interest were endangered, said a top official of the Iranian military. "Our strategy now is that if we feel our enemies want to endanger Iran's national interests, and want to decide to do that, we will act without waiting for their actions," deputy head of the armed forces Mohammad Hejazi was quoted as saying. Iran could attack preemptively, army warns Earlier in the day, Iran announced that a delegation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that is currently in Tehran will not visit the nuclear facilities but only hold meetings with officials. Reuters reported that Iran is facing growing international pressure over its disputed nuclear activity, with expanded Western sanctions aiming to block its oil exports and Tehran saying it could retaliate by shutting the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. Israel-based newspaper Haaretz reported that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak had protested over recent comments by senior American officials critical of any Israeli attack on Iran, saying this criticism "served Iran's interests". In Brussels, the EU is currently reported to be studying Iran's positive answer to an offer to revive the talks that broke down in January of last year. The EU says that the negotiations could resume "unless Iran conditions them, in particular when it comes to its nuclear program". A file photo of an anti-aircraft gun at Iran's nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz (Beta/AP) Reuters Tanjug

Iran could attack preemptively, army warns

Earlier in the day, Iran announced that a delegation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that is currently in Tehran will not visit the nuclear facilities but only hold meetings with officials.

Reuters reported that Iran is facing growing international pressure over its disputed nuclear activity, with expanded Western sanctions aiming to block its oil exports and Tehran saying it could retaliate by shutting the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.

Israel-based newspaper Haaretz reported that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak had protested over recent comments by senior American officials critical of any Israeli attack on Iran, saying this criticism "served Iran's interests".

In Brussels, the EU is currently reported to be studying Iran's positive answer to an offer to revive the talks that broke down in January of last year. The EU says that the negotiations could resume "unless Iran conditions them, in particular when it comes to its nuclear program".