Iran: Zionist enemy hit hard

Tehran continues to deny any link to terror attack against Israeli tourists in Bulgaria. Says Islamic regime 'continues to stand strong'

Dudi Cohen |Published: 07.19.12 , 22:54

Iran on Thursday denied it was involved in a suicide attack against Israeli tourists in Bulgaria that killed seven people. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad further said that "the Zionist enemy attempts to hit Iran with blow after blow and is hit harder."

"The enemies of Iran have initiated confrontation and are attempting to use all of their powers against Iran, but the Islamic regime continues to stand strong," said Ahmadinejad in regards to the assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists and the malware viruses detected in Iranian facilities.

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"I assure the Iranian people that the government will not back down on its principles and values against these materialistic nations," he added in what can be interpreted as a hint that Iran does not intend to change its nuclear policy, despite negotiation talks with the West.

Israel has blamed the blast on Iran and its proxy group Iranian-backed Hezbollah and has threatened retaliation.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast formally rejected accusations of Tehran's involvement in the attack and said that the charges are aimed at diverting world attention from Israel's role in the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists.

"The Zionist regime, which had a direct role in the assassination of our country's scientists, is leveling baseless accusations to divert global attention to its own terrorist nature," Mehmanparast said to IRNA news agency.

"The Zionist regime is even ready to pursue its political scenarios by putting at risk the lives of people inside or outside the occupied territories,” Mehmanparast added.

He noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran is itself the biggest victim of terrorism and putting the lives of innocent people is a wrong strategy.