Iran stages anti-Israel rallies

• Tweet

TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Iran is among the world's leaders of resistance against the Israeli government, an Iranian commander said on a day of national protest.

Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, said Iran was a steadfast bulwark against Israeli policies.

"The Iranian nation has always been a pioneer in resistance and showing the world and Muslims its animosity toward Israel," he told the semiofficial Fars News Agency.

Iran sanctioned a national day of demonstrations dubbed Quds Day to voice opposition to Israeli policy against the Palestinians.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Israeli is using its national policies to drive events in the Middle East.

"So, we should be vigilant and negligence against enemies will give the opportunity to them to dominate the region," he said.

Israeli media this week reported that the Israeli envoy to the United States Michael Oren said an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities would be worthwhile.

Iran is suspected of pursuing a nuclear weapons program, a claim Tehran denies.

Hundreds of Israelis have signed an online petition, urging Israel air force pilots to disobey orders if instructed to bomb Iran, The Times of Israel reports.