Following are excerpts from an interview with General Yahya Rahim-Safavi, Revolutionary Guards Corps commander aired on the Iranian News Channel (IRINN) on March 29, 2006:

General Yahya Rahim-Safavi: As for the American threats against Iran, on the issue of nuclear energy...

[...]

If they turn to military threats, they should know that the armed forces of the Islamic are fully prepared and ready to defend the interests of their nation, their Islamic Republic, their national interests, and their Islamic state. This readiness serves as a warning light to the military forces, that are here, which have more than 190,000 soldiers in the region. They should know that their forces in Iraq and the Persian Gulf region are vulnerable.

We must make them understand that if, God forbid, they have planned a stupid move, our armed forces will defend Iran's national interests with all their might.