Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is headed to New York for an appearance before the U.N. General Assembly. Before leaving Tehran, Mr. Ahmadinejad said no country is brave enough to attack his nation.
The Iranian president promised his armed forces would resist all invaders, and cut off the hands of anyone who tried to shoot at Iran.
Mr. Ahmadinejad spoke before a military parade that showcased the latest generation of Iranian-made rockets and aircraft. State media reported one plane crashed during the ceremonies.
The president was marking the anniversary of the start of the devastating Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. He used the occasion to accuse what he called the Satanic powers of the West of arming Iraq with the chemical weapons used in that conflict.
He also repeated his demand that foreign troops leave the region. Washington is considering boosting its military presence in Afghanistan, while drawing down troops in Iraq, both countries that border Iran.
Mr. Ahmadinejad is set to begin a diplomatic offensive, both with colleagues at the United Nations, and next week with world powers in talks on Iran's nuclear program. State media report that he will present a message of peace to the General Assembly.
But his controversial re-election in June and the violent suppression of the opposition by security forces continues to anger his critics. And in the days leading up to his visit, he returned to one of this favorite themes - that the mass murder of millions of Jews during the Holocaust is a myth - ensuring his appearance in New York will be met with protests.
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