Iran warns against Western strike

TEHRAN, June 25 (UPI) -- The speaker of Iran's Parliament warned other countries Wednesday not to provoke Iran over its nuclear program.

Ali Larijani recommended that the West consider recent comments from United Nations nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei, who said a strike on Iran would turn the Middle East into a "ball of fire," IRNA reported.

"A little time was left for having interaction with Iran," Larijani said. "The final whistle is going to be blown for your defeated game."

Iran has insisted for months that it wants to pursue nuclear power for energy purposes.

Maj. Gen. Seyed Mohammad Hejazi, deputy commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Wednesday American leaders "be careful lest they face a new catastrophe," CNN reported.

"Our last word is that if you want to head toward Iran, be sure to bring with you a walking stick and a pair of artificial legs, because if you do come to Iran you will no longer have legs to go back home with," Hejazi said.