Iran prepares public for possible military conflict

Iran conducted missile tests today as its leadership stepped up warnings of possible military confrontation with the United States.

Hardliners said an American attack would spark "hell" for the US and Israel, with some threatening suicide attacks against US forces.

The drum-beating suggests Iran does not intend to back down as tensions mount on both fronts of its confrontation with the United States and the West - the nuclear issue and the turmoil in neighbouring Iraq.

In another defiant move, Iranian officials today said Tehran had rejected 38 UN nuclear inspectors from a list of potential inspectors.

Iran's leaders have increasingly touted the possibility of a US attack since President George Bush announced on January 9 the deployment of a second aircraft carrier in the Gulf region.

The leadership's warnings could aim to rally the public behind the government and silence increasingly bold criticism of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at home.

In a significant move, a paper close to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei joined the voices threatening retaliation for any US military action.