Iran dismisses threats of a US military attack

Iran dismissed on Tuesday remarks by the top U.S. military chief that Washington had a plan to attack the Islamic republic, saying the comments stemmed from a string of U.S. military defeats in the region.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Sunday the United States has drawn up the plan to prevent Iran getting nuclear weapons, but was "extremely concerned" about the upshot of any such attack.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Mullen's remarks were "not noteworthy."

"We witness such inappropriate remarks by these American military officials," he told reporters when asked to comment on Mullen's statement.

"We think the reason behind it stems from the consecutive (U.S.) defeats in the region and its military adventurism which has resulted in deaths of innocent citizens and of their own forces."

In a separate statement, Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi described Mullen's comments as "fascistic."

"Such remarks are in contradiction of their claims of change that they are after dialogue and peace," Vahidi was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

"They show that they are unable to stand against the will of Iran. Having plans to attack an independent nation... in the third millennium is a clear violation of the UN charter."

Speaking on U.S. television, Mullen held out hope on Sunday that a combination of diplomatic efforts and sanctions would force Tehran to suspend a uranium enrichment program that many believe is a secret bid to develop nuclear arms.

We think the reason behind it stems from the consecutive (U.S.) defeats in the region and its military adventurism which has resulted in deaths of innocent citizens and of their own forces

Ramin Mehmanparast, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman

At the same time, though, he said "the military options have been on the table, and remain on the table".

"I hope we don't get to that, but it's an important option and it's one that's well understood," he added.

Asked if the military has a plan to strike Iran, Mullen replied, "We do."

He did not elaborate.

the military options have been on the table, and remain on the table

dmiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff

Ahmadinejad ready for a one-on-one talks with Obama

On Monday Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on U.S. President Barack Obama to face him in a televised one-on-one debate to see who has the best solutions for the world's problems.

The proposal comes as Iran deals with a new wave of international sanctions driven by Washington aimed at putting pressure on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.

"Toward the end of summer we will hopefully be there for the (U.N.) General Assembly and I will be ready for one-on-one talks with Mr Obama, in front of the media of course," Ahmadinejad told a conference of Iranian expatriates in Tehran.

"We will offer our solutions for world issues to see whose solutions are better."

Ahmadinejad suggested such a debate last September, which was not taken up by Washington. He said Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, had declined similar invitations because he was "scared."

Denis McDonough, chief of staff at the White House National Security Council, was non-committal about a potential presidential encounter.

Asked by CNN whether he would leave open the possibility of a meeting between Obama and Ahmadinejad, McDonough said: "I'm not leaving it open and I'm not closing it."

Ahmadinejad mocks sanctions and a potential military attack

Iran, the world's fifth-largest oil producer, says its nuclear program is a peaceful bid to produce electricity.

But its uranium enrichment activities, a process which can have both civilian and military uses, has fed fears in some countries that it is trying to build a nuclear weapon.

In his speech, the Iranian president mocked the sanctions and the potential for a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, an option that the United States and Israel say they do not rule out.

"Who do you think is going to attack us? The Israeli regime? ... We don't consider the regime in our equations, let alone attacking us," he said.

"They say we'll issue sanctions? Okay, do it. How many resolutions have you issued so far? Four? Make it 4,000," he said to loud applause from the conference.

Both Iran and the United States have indicated willingness to return to nuclear talks which stalled last October, leading to the new sanctions.

Amid the anti-American rhetoric in which he said U.S. policy was based on colonialism and the "law of the jungle," Ahmadinejad said he was ready for talks "based on justice and respect."

"We are ready to hold talks at the highest level," he said. "We have always favored talks, Iranians have never, ever favored war."