Iranian army commander downplays significance of Israeli war rhetoric

Commander of the Iranian Army Major General Ataollah Salehi dismissed Israel's growing war rhetoric against Iran as insignificant, but meantime reiterated that Iran is fully prepared to repel enemy threats and attacks.The Zionist regime is incapable of attacking Iran and is too little to threaten Iran, Salehi said on Thursday.Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the ceremony to mark the National Army Day, he said that the army is fully prepared to counter any adventure by the enemies by an overwhelming counterattack.The Zionist regime's threats should not be taken serious, he said, noting that dogs are not expected to do anything but barking.Israel and its close ally the United States accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, while they have never presented any corroborative document to substantiate their allegations. Both Washington and Tel Aviv possess advanced weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear warheads.Iran vehemently denies the charges, insisting that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. Tehran stresses that the country has always pursued a civilian path to provide power to the growing number of Iranian population, whose fossil fuel would eventually run dry.The Zionist regime has recently intensified its war rhetoric against Tehran, warning that it plans to hit Iranian nuclear facilities.Iran has, in return, warned that it would target Israel and its worldwide interests in case it comes under attack by the Tel Aviv.The United States has also always stressed that military action is a main option for the White House to deter Iran's progress in the field of nuclear technology.In response, Iran has warned it would hit the US, Israel and their worldwide interests and close the strategic Strait of Hormuz if it became the target of a military attack over its nuclear program.Strait of Hormuz, the entrance to the strategic Persian Gulf waterway, is a major oil shipping route.