Iranian military chief: Netanyahu's threats show Israel's desperation

In the aftermath of the prime minister's speech to the UNGA, Iranian officials dismiss Netanyahu's warnings of a military strike if their nuclear program continues; Iranian FM: We will not let Netanyahu determine our future.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hassan Firouzabadi (photo credit: Reuters)
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hassan Firouzabadi
(photo credit: Reuters)
Iranian Chief-of-Staff Hassan Firouzabadi said Wednesday that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's threat of a unilateral Israeli military strike on Iran "lacks stability," and stems from desperation, Iran's Fars new agency reported.
After Netanyahu warned Iran against advancing its nuclear program in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, the Iranian military chief told Fars that the use of a military threat is a method which is "rusted, old and blunt," and that Tehran's nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
"Such remarks stem out of desperation," he added.
Firouzabadi also told Fars that Netanyahu's remarks had only served to "increase the threat against the Zionists." Referring to Netanyahu as a "warmonger," Firouzabadi said "Iran will be the winner in this case for its revolutionary stance of heroic flexibility."
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Netanyahu and "the Zionist lobby" were trying to hinder negotiations.
"We will not let Netanyahu determine the future of our talks," Zarif wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday.
The next round of nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers is to take place in Geneva on Oct. 15-16.Reuters contributed to this report