World war may erupt if attacked by Israel:Iran

TEHRAN - Iran says on Sunday that the World War III may erupt if the Islamic republic is attacked by Israel.

Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Aerospace Division of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) , warned on Sunday that an Israeli strike on Iran could trigger the World War III, Press TV reported.

Israel, threatened to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities these days, has always been highly concerned over Iran's nuclear program, which is believed by the West to head for acquiring nuclear weapons under the cover of civilian purposes.

Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, and warned that it will retaliate if it comes under attack.

Hajizadeh said in case of the eruption of such a war against Iran, the situation would be out of control, according to Press TV.

"This war is likely to degenerate into the World War III," Hajizadeh said, adding that it means some countries might enter the war in favor of or against Iran.

"We see the United States and the Zionist regime (of Israel) alongside one another and we can by no means imagine that the Zionist regime would initiate a war (against Iran) without the US support," he was quoted as saying.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the US bases in the region as part of American soil and will definitely target them if a war breaks out," he added.

On Saturday, Iran's Commander of the IRGC, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, said that a war on Iran "will eventually happen," Press TV reported.

"War will happen but it is not clear where and when," Jafari said, adding that Iran is ready to confront any possible strike against the country.

The Israeli officials currently consider war as the only way to confront Iran, he claimed, insisting that if they begin a war, it will spell their destruction and will be the end of their adventure.

The Iranian commander said that the armed forces of the Islamic republic enjoy capabilities and equipment in hardware and software fields, according to the report.

Also, Hossein Salami, another IRGC commander, reiterated the remarks by Jafari on Sunday that "Iran will obliterate the Zionist regime if the latter takes any action against Iran," the official IRNA news agency reported.

Salami said Iran does not initiate war against any country but in case it is attacked by any country it will never stop its counterattack till the annihilation of the enemy.

Also on Sunday, Press TV reported that Iran's Air Force plans to hold a massive military maneuver in the southern parts of the country by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 2013).

"Maneuvers to be carried out by Iran are peaceful and indicate that Iran and regional countries are capable of safeguarding their security," Deputy Commander of Iran's Air Force, Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, was quoted as saying.

Nasirzadeh said that the presence of non-regional powers in the Persian Gulf is "illegitimate" and emphasized that there is no necessity for such a presence.

Non-regional powers cannot provide regional states with security, he said, adding that the countries in the region can ensure their security if they cooperate with each other.

According to IRNA, IRGC will also hold a 15,000-man maneuver in Shahr-e-Rey district of Tehran city for two days from Sept 27- 28.

IRGC Commander in charge of the operations, General Nasiri told IRNA that the exercises aim to raise combat readiness of the ground forces.

Nasiri said that the troops will conduct shooting, night war, relief and rescue operations, said the report.