Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has described Iran as a "fist" that will "knock teeth out" of anyone who has the courage to attack the Islamic republic, Iranian news agency ISNA said on Friday.
The statement came during Ahmadinejad's visit to Kish Island in the Persian Gulf marking National Persian Gulf Day.
The Gulf, which hosts large oil deposits, has been an area of increased attention from regional powers, as well as from the United States.
"They [the U.S. authorities] want to dominate the Middle East... Though it should be mentioned that they have not reached their goal and will not do it [in the future]," the agency quoted the hard-line Iranian leader as saying.
"Today Iran is the world's most powerful nation. We like all nations and are glad to see their prosperity. We are adherents of friendship and dialogue. However, as opposed to the aggressive intentions, we remain a powerful fist that will knock the teeth out of anyone [who will have courage to attack Iran]," Ahmadinejad said.
The U.S. and Israel have not ruled out military action against Iran in case it fails to meet a demand by Western powers and halt its controversial uranium enrichment program. The U.S. and other Western nations accuse Iran of attempting to build weapons under the guise of peaceful nuclear generation.
Ahmadinejad said a major problem facing the Persian Gulf was the U.S.'s presence in the region.
"The Persian Gulf's problem is not the issue of security, the problem is you [the U.S.]," he said.
He said the United States has deployed its Patriot air defense systems in the Persian Gulf region, saying they are needed to avert a possible attack by Iran. Washington is set to extend cooperation with regional powers to deploy more radar stations in the area.
Last week, Iran's Revolutionary Guards carried out a wide-range military exercise in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, firing indigenous cruise missiles both from sea and land.
According to Iranian military officials, the drills were designed to "ensure security in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman."
Iran has repeatedly warned that if Tehran is attacked, it will retaliate by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Nearly 40% of the world's seaborne oil shipments pass through the strategically important waterway linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
MOSCOW, April 30 (RIA Novosti)
