Iran´s President warns enemy-attacker

Amid an escalating war of words that has fueled tensions in the Middle East, Iran's president warns his country would strike its enemies before they managed to fire a shot.

Iran''s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the media on Sunday that even before its enemies "get their hands on the trigger," the country's military would cut their hands off. He echoed earlier comments by other Iranian officials that the country's response to any attack over its disputed nuclear programme would be quick. But Ahmadinejad also suggested that Iran would consider any proposal by the US for opening a US interests section in Tehran.

US officials say they have no such plans. The Swiss embassy currently handles US interests in Iran, but there are no US diplomats working there.