Daily Times
* Khamenei warns West not to interfere in Iran
* Britain says all but one embassy employee released
TOKYO: A senior Iranian official, reacting to comments by US Vice President Joe Biden, said on Monday his country would respond "in a very full-scale and very decisive way" if it were attacked by Israel.
The Iranian official was speaking in Japan hours after US television broadcast an interview in which Biden said the United States would not stand in Israel's way in its dealings with Iran's nuclear ambitions. Biden told ABC television's 'This Week' that "we cannot dictate to another sovereign nation what they can and cannot do when they make a determination, if they make a determination, that they're existentially threatened".
In Tokyo, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said: "I think that America and Israel are fully aware what kind of result such a wrong judgement will entail. "Israel showed its military power sufficiently in the 22-day war," its offensive in Gaza early this year, he told reporters. "That kind of erroneous judgement poses a threat to the entire Middle Eastern region and the world." He added: "If (an Israeli attack) occurred, then the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond in a very full-scale and very decisive way."
Interference: Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Western countries on Monday against interfering in Iranian affairs after its disputed presidential election, state television reported. Iranian authorities accuse the West, particularly the United States and Britain, of inciting unrest in the Islamic Republic following the June 12 vote in which President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected.
"We strongly warn leaders of some Western countries not to interfere in Iran's internal matters ... The Iranian nation will react," Khamenei said. Last month's election, which defeated candidate Mirhossein Mousavi said was rigged, led to the most widespread street protests in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Authorities say more than 1,000 people were arrested during the demonstrations, although most have been released. But human rights activists say 2,000 people, including opposition leaders, academics, journalists and students, may be still held.
Embassy staff: Britain said on Monday that Iran had freed one of its last two embassy employees detained after the election, leaving just one still in custody. Iran accuses the Iranian employees of instigating street protests, a charge Britain denies. "It remains our top priority to get all of our embassy staff released as soon as possible," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said. "We are continuing intensive discussions with the Iranian authorities and our international partners to resolve this." agencies
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