Iran threatens US targets in every possible part of the world
The Daily Telegraph ^ | April 27, 2006 | Alec Russell

Posted on 04/27/2006 1:37:05 AM PDT

Iran intensified its war of words with America yesterday, threatening to retaliate against US interests across the world if attacked over its controversial nuclear programme.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iran would "give a double response to any strike".

"The Americans should know that if they launch an assault against Islamic Iran, their interests in every possible part of the world will be harmed," he said.

His threat came two days before the expiry of a UN deadline for Teheran to freeze its uranium enrichment programme.

The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, is to report to the Security Council on Friday on whether Iran has complied with its demands.

The head of Iran's nuclear organisation, Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, met IAEA officials yesterday but diplomats held out little hope of a breakthrough.

America and its major European allies are pressing for the Security Council to approve sanctions if, as widely predicted, Iran is deemed to have ignored the UN's demands.