An Iranian plane crashed during a military show in Tehran while Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was delivering another threatening speech aimed at Israel and the United States. Seven people were killed, according to Iranian news reports.
The government admitted that the plane crashed at a nearby village while performing maneuvers but initially did not release any details on casualties, if any, and what type of plane was involved.
It was Iran's third plane crash in the past three months, and other mishaps, some of them involving the country's nuclear program, have raised suspicions that foreign intelligence agents were responsible.
In his speech marking the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war in 1980, the president threatened, "No power will ever dare to think of launching aggression against Iran. Today, Iran is experienced and powerful. Our armed forces are ready to confront the forces of darkness. If anybody wants to shoot a bullet at us from anywhere, we will cut off his hands."
His speech followed rhetoric two days ago in which he again denied the Holocaust, calling it a “myth." His remarks preceded by several hours his trip to the United Nations General Assembly.
Speaking directly to the United States, he demanded that it withdraw its forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. "We advise you to go back to your own land. Our region will never accept a lengthy presence of foreigners," he declared.
In the military parade, thousands of soldiers marched and the air force showed off its Iranian-built plane, dubbed the Saegheh, and long-range missiles which are claimed to be within striking range of Israel.
Slogans of “Down with Israel" and “Down with United States” were prominent.
Ahmadinejad’s threats came two weeks before Tehran is to talk with major world powers about its nuclear development program. Ahmadinejad has said that Iran has a "right” to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes and has denied it is planning to enrich uranium for a nuclear warhead to be aimed at Israel.
He has said several times that Israel should be “wiped off the map” and “annihilated.”
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