Iran in threat over military action

A senior commander of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard has said the country will target Nato’s missile defence shield in Turkey if the US or Israel attacks the Islamic Republic.

General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guards’ aerospace division, is quoted by the semi-official Mehr news agency as saying the warning is part of a new defence strategy to counter what it sees as an increase in threats from the US and Israel.

He says Iran will now respond to threats with threats, rather than a defensive position.

Tehran says Nato’s early warning radar station in Turkey is meant to protect Israel against Iranian missile attacks if a war breaks out with Israel.

Turkey agreed to host the radar in September as part of Nato’s missile defence system.