Iran

The Pentagon is criticizing an article by investigative journalist Seymour Hersh that says the United States has been carrying out reconnaissance missions in Iran to identify nuclear, chemical and missile sites for possible airstrikes as soon as this summer. But the Pentagon's response Monday did not specifically address Hersh's contention that the United States has been "conducting secret reconnaissance missions inside Iran since at least last summer" to identify and isolate at least three dozen targets in Iran "that could be destroyed by precision strikes and short-term commando raids." ... He [Hersh] said his information came from "inside" sources who divulged it in hopes that publicity about the alleged plans would force the administration to reconsider them. "I think that's one of the reasons some of the people on the inside talk to me," he said Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition." ... Cohen noted that Hersh's article has not been "categorically denied" by the Bush administration. "So there seems to be some confirmation that there is a fairly serious effort under way to gather this kind of information for potential military operations," he said. Iran, meanwhile, on Tuesday said it has the power to deter any attacks. "We are able to say that we have strength such that no country can attack us because they do not have precise information about our military capabilities due to our ability to implement flexible strategies," the semi-official Mehr news agency quoted Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani as saying. CNN

My take.
U. S.: "We are not denying it, but we kind of deny it. Shut up. Iran better straighten up." shaking finger.

Iran's Side

Mehr news agency, which analysts say has close ties to the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an editorial entitled "Futile espionage" ridiculed U.S. attempts to destabilize Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. "The United States is well aware that Iran has strongly withstood U.S. pressure for over 25 years ... Today, the Islamic Republic has acquired massive military might, the dimensions of which still remain unknown, and is prepared to attack any intruder with a fearsome rain of fire and death," it said. "The U.S. and Israel know that they can never militarily challenge Iran, since attacking the Islamic Republic would be biting off more than they could chew and would only choke them if they attempted it," it added. CNN

My take.
Iran: "You don't have the guts!"