Following are excerpts from an interview with Brig.-Gen Masoud Jazayeri, the Iranian deputy chief of staff in charge of media. The interview aired on Al-Alam TV on November 9, 2011.
Brig.-Gen. Masoud Jazayeri: "The Americans are leaving Iraqi soil, dragging shame and humiliation behind them. We should call it fleeing, rather than withdrawing, from the noble Iraqi soil. We do not have the slightest doubt that the defeat of the American forces will soon repeat itself in Afghanistan. We shall see the day when the U.S. soldiers flee Afghanistan.
[...]
"The main goal of the U.S. and its allies in Europe and in the region – with global Zionism behind them – is to divert the world's public opinion away from the bitter truths that have begun to threaten the existence of international capitalism.
[...]
"We believe that the American economic and financial problems are serious problems, which pose a great challenge to American capitalism.
"In addition, the events in U.S. society that the world is witnessing today constitute a bona fide protest movement and a popular awakening. This is an Intifada against the oppressive, unjust measures of the U.S. administration. The American people are striving to achieve their legitimate liberties, which have been appropriated and violated by the U.S. administration, not to mention all the other moral problems prevalent in U.S. society.
[...]
SUPPORT OUR WORK
"The U.S. is incapable of taking any military measure against a great country like Iran. Iran is capable of containing and retaliating against any aggression or war. Naturally, we do not exclude any possible measure on the part of the Great Satan. We have no doubt – and we are ready to back this up with actions, not slogans – that although the US, or any other country, might be able to start a war, they definitely will not be able to end that war.
[...]
"From this pulpit, I call upon the leaders of the [Occupy] Wall Street movement to denounce the statements by U.S. officials, who called to assassinate citizens of other countries. In the future, we hope to see opposition to such statements in the demonstrations of the American people in Wall Street.
[...]
"Tel Aviv knows full well that the slightest measure against Iran would have implications regarding the very existence of that false entity. It is not U.S. saying so, but everybody believes that a military measure such as this by the Zionist entity against Iran would lead to the total annihilation of that entity.
[...]
"We believe that the Zionist entity is incapable of making good on its threats."
[...]
Interviewer: "In the event that a war breaks out, will Iran use the Strait [of Hormuz] to strike a blow against the U.S.?"
Brig.-Gen. Masoud Jazayeri: "Iran has a wide variety of trump cards up its sleeve. These trump cards are not limited to this region. These days, the strategic depth of Iran and of its Islamic revolution extends to many parts of the world. This strategic depth can be observed within the various regimes, as well as in the UN and around the world. Therefore, Iran holds many cards and a variety of methods, which it will use at the appropriate time.
[...]
"We hope that [an attack on Iran's nuclear installations] does not take place, but if it does, this could also happen elsewhere."
Interviewer: "What do you mean?"
Brig.-Gen. Masoud Jazayeri: "If they decide that smoke should billow from our nuclear installations, such smoke could also billow from other installations."
[...]
Interviewer: "With regard to the Dimona plant of the Israeli entity – is the Iranian array of missiles militarily capable of destroying it, if something happens to the Iranian nuclear installations?"
Brig.-Gen. Masoud Jazayeri: "That nuclear plant is the easiest target for the Iranian military capabilities." [...]
