Commander: Biggest threat to Iran is 'soft war'

[August 03, 2012]  TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- The commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard says the biggest threat to Iran is a "soft war" launched by its enemies.

Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari did not define the term. "Soft war" usually refers to measures like economic sanctions, espionage and sales of faulty equipment, as well as computer viruses.

His comments were posted on the Guard's website Friday.

Jafari said Iran is in a "sensitive and fateful period" and needs the paramilitary Basij forces to protect it.

The West has tightened sanctions to persuade Iran to stop enriching uranium, suspecting that Iran aims to build nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear development program is for peaceful purposes.

Iran's nuclear program has been hit several times by computer viruses. When it acknowledges the attacks, Iran blames Israel and the U.S.

[Associated Press]

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