After the ethnic bombing campaign in Lebanon and Americas and Britain's reluctance to halt it, if not full support, who can blame people on the other end of Israel’s weapons systems from a little paranoia. Not to mention many politicians insistence on Israel’s right to lebenstrum. Oh! Promised Land.

martyn, calvia, spain

if you want to hurt them don't buy oil from them

knight, aberdeen,

It always amazes me how the people who use the threat of war are the ones who say they are trying to change the world by peaceful means. It's time that the US and Israel stop this charade.

Richard, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

Why do we let these children get into power, for god sake Bush and Ahmedinejad GROW UP

Steve, Melbourne, Australia

It is funny just as Oil goes down.

they launch misiles, and surprise surprise the price ofoil bounces back up.

Same thing happens from Nigeria usually, just as Oil goes down something happens

It is as if someone is telephoning it to happen

Nicholas Iles, Oswestry, Shropshire

Has anyone noticed everytime the price of crude oil starts to finally drop, something happens to push the price up again? Seems like Iran time their posturing to perfection to just after the price of crude falls so they can push it back up since it's their main source of export revenue

Mac, UK, UK

Iran must have learned the lesson of Iraq.
First you get the victim to disarm under false promises, then get the UN to confirm disarmament, discredit their report and launch an invasion. Only a fool would disarm in the face of aggressive statements from the US and Israel.

Trevor, Thetford, UK

Kayvan said "why Israel needs 200 nuclear weapons? ". Because if not they'd probably be bombed out of existence. Recall the 6 Day War? Egypt,Syria,Jordan and Iraq ganged up on Israel, calling for a unified Arab attack against Israel. Iraq,Saudi and African nations supplied troops.

Karl, DC, USA

To the people who right on here against Israel are there not more chance of being stabbed to death here in England then Israel bombing Iran you should sort out your own countries problems before having ago at another country..

michelle, tel aviv, Israel

"Illegal US and Israeli threats", aside from ignoring far worse from Iran, what is illegal about words? Its getting so "illegal" simply means "not what we would have them do".

Summers, Menlo Park, CA, USA

"people that don't know the difference between disagreement with hate"

All the posts that simply assume the worst motives for the US, are totally unwilling to consider our point of view or concerns, etc. convey and attitude far worse than "we just disagree with you".

Summers, Menlo Park, CA, USA

Iran’s terrorist leader Ahmadinejad needs to wakeup and understand he will stand alone when Israeli and US forces drop some Steal Rain on his door step. Statements such as calling for the destruction of Israel and the pursuit of nuclear weapons can not be allowed.

Mike, Berkley, USA

Paul Henderson from the US said "It appears the America haters are out in force today.". Mate, its so sad to see people that don't know the difference between disagreement with hate?

Chris, Liverpool, UK

Israel had failed to win Hebollah a couple of years ago, although Israel was vastly superior in arms and technology provided by the US and after bombing Lebanon for more than a month. What makes them think they will win this time a country 1000 miles away, which boarders with 2/3 other countries

nigel, heywood, uk

Speaking of I "ignorance is bliss", Ahmadinejad did not say he was going to wipe Israel off the map, because no such idiom exists in Persian. He did say he hoped its regime i.e. a Jewish-Zionist state occupying Jerusalem, would collapse. I don't blame you though, Robert. You just misinformed.

James, Washington DC,

If Ahmadinejad were truly hostile to Jews or Judaism, or harbored genocidal designs against the Jewish people, as the Zionist propaganda machine keeps telling us, he would start with tens of thousands of Iranian Jewish citizens who enjoy religious and civil freedoms and are represented in govt.

Giovanni, Yorktown,

Iran is getting ready to retaliate in case Israel/US attacks. It is certain that all the oil supplies from the Gulf will be cut off in such a case. Can you imagine the price of oil and the state of Western economy

david, Brighton, uk

It seems the US has never forgotten the humiliation of hostages held by Iran a couple of decades ago

Tony, hamilton, uk

For Isreal to hit all the nuclear sites in Iran they would have to fly full fuel loads with heavy precision guided munitions which means F-15's and 16's would have to fly low level to avoid radar detection to all the targets and back home. Look at a map it will show you the suspected nuclear sites.

Sherard, FT Walton Beach, USA

It appears the America haters are out in force today. It is so sad that there are so many people who cannot see the naivete and wrong-headedness of their ways. What is even more sad is they should know better. It always amazes me how do-nothings always seem to be the most vocal with their criticism.

Paul, Henderson, USA

The Iranians are very smart. Everyone thinks they will go after military targets in the Gulf region. They know that all they have to do is hit the Oil ports in the region attack oil tankers and mine the straights and and watch what happens to the worlds economy when oil flow is cut off.

Sherard, FT Walton Beach, USA

I haven't heard the US or Israel state that another country should be wiped from the face of the earth as Iran and other countries in the region have said about Israel. There are a lot of appeasing and "ignorance is bliss" comments on this board. Either that or just downright anti-semitic.

Robert, Los Angeles,

I don't know what's more interesting or worrisome...this article and its subject matter...or the comments posted in response. It's interesting to note that when countries need major help, they turn to the U.S. Later they knife the US in the back or spit in America's eye, right on the world stage!

cwither, Columbus, Oh, USA

Iran hasn't threatened anyone? Whoa and I suppose they never fund terrorist organizations which are responsible to no one! I applaud their timing on the missile launches though, ironic they are helping Bush with his foreign policy objectives. I think it is a ploy to keep oil prices high!

David, North Carolina, US

Iran has not threaten Isreal. Stop and look at all the facts. Iran and the rest of the world knows our military weakness. There's not one combat aircraft capable of flying low level undetected for 2 thousand plus miles on a single bag of jet fuel. Has to get fuel some where.

Sherard, FT Walton Beach, USA

Who is the bigger threat? A country that has never invaded anyone in its history or a country that goes halfway around the world to attack and destroy a country that never did anything to it? The hypocrisy is laughable.

Tony, London,

The US doesn't consider Israel an ally, the US uses anything it can, any way profit can be made, The war on Iraq was very privatised with many companies coming in to "help" (and get paid in the process of course) the Army. They may have a right to their pay, but any way the US wages will either be to defend America, or make money.

Tom, North Yorkshire,

Israel is the only entity in the world which had at one time illegally occupied territories of all its neighbours namely Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. So who is the invader? Who is the threat to the region? Who has the nuclear bomb? Who has the chemical and biological weapons?

Knut, NYC, USA

I don't see why America and 'its allies' should be so bothered. As if Iran is going to bomb Israel, it would be suicide. Israel has the largest stock of weapons in the middle east - why would Iran be that stupid?

I believe the politicians and media are making out Iran to be something it isn't .

John , Derby, England

"Defies"?

All Iran is doing is testing weapons to show those who have threatened it many, many times that it has some serious defences.

The U.S. and Israel are the ones occupying others and daily threatening Iran, a country that has attacked no one.

JOHN CHUCKMAN, Toronto, Canada

Iran has not invaded any country for the past 500 years, they have every right to defend themselves against the zionist and US threats, could someone tell me why Israel needs 200 nuclear weapons? are they planning an invasion of Russia or they just like the monopoly in Middleeast..what a joke!

Kayvan, London, UK

I really don't think Israel will wait for a green light from the Americans to launch a preemptive strike on Iran. And I believe it will happen sooner rather than later.

Dan Mason, Norwich, United Kingdom

Iran has not threatened Israel. It has never even come close to attacking anyone.
By the way, it seems that the US can threaten and Israel can threaten, but if someone says something remotely threatening to towards them, then that person or country is crazy.

Tim, toronto,

"Israel has a right to defend itself too." Yes, and for once let's require them do it themselves! I am sick of the U.S. applying U.N. vetoes and starting pre-emptive wars to "protect" this noble little Jewish occupier that's fully armed with nuclear weapons and the very best U.S. military technology

Jerry, Seattle, USA

Iran has never attacked any nation in our living memory and does not do it today. US and Israel threatens as always, and Iran making sure that it can protect itself. Come on Condi, be an American, not an Israeli Likud Party member!!!!

rohit, East Brunswick, USA

Does this mean that the US will have to borrow even more money from the Chinese?

E J Murray, Kerry, Ireland

As someone has already said Richard, Iran has been doing all the threats!

John, Salford, England

Its nice to see Iran can put cat amoung the pegions. Well done Iran. Now its time to dismantle Isreals nukes!!

seng, Swindon,

I believe those were more like promises rather than threats, at least I certainly hope so!

Nick, Jackson, USA

Should we brass ourselves for another war? The leaders of our nation should realise that we are all on planet earth to survive, not war, not hate. There are staving people, disabled people etc in the world who need our help. Use our taxes to build our country, not destroy another

keisha, Liverpool,

Richard, we wouldnt have to make threats against Iran if they didnt threaten Israel. Israel has a right to defend itself too.

Bryan, Houston, USA

Perhaps the blatant and illegal US and Israeli threats to attack Iran weren't such a clever idea after all.

Richard Cheeseman, Wellington, Aotearoa/NZ