Iran prepping graves in case of attack

TEHRAN, June 30 (UPI) -- Iran is preparing hundreds of thousands of graves along border regions in case the country is attacked, an Iranian military official said.

In addition to preparing 320,000 graves, the country has been divided into 31 military sectors, an Iranian source told DEBKAfile.com, an Israeli military intelligence Web site.

"We don't wish the families of enemy soldiers to experience what Americans had to go through in the aftermath of the Vietnam War," Iranian Brig. Gen. Mir-Faisal Baqerzadeh, head of the army's Foundation for the Remembrance of the Holy Defense and MIAs, said of the graves. "The burial of slain soldiers will be carried out decently and in little time."

Bagherzadeh said the decision to prepare graves was keeping with Iran's commitment to "comply with the Geneva Conventions and the additional protocol regarding wartime cooperation between Iran and the Red Cross," the Belfast Telegraph reported.

The graves also would be used for Iranians, including civilians, killed in any such fighting, DEBKAfile said.

The plan to divide the country into 31 military districts was approved after consulting with Supreme Ruler Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week, DEBKAfile reported. Each sector would have its own command center led by a Revolutionary Guards officer.