Iran taunts the west

IRAN will stop any attacker before he can “pull the trigger” and sanctions intended to isolate the Islamic republic have not worked, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has told a military parade.

The United States and its allies are seeking to step up UN sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear plans, which the West sees as a bid to build nuclear arms. Iran denies this.

There has been persistent speculation Washington or Israel might launch strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, as neither country has ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to end the row.