By NASSER KARIMI

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday that Iran's military will "break the hand" of anyone targeting his country's nuclear facilities.

The president spoke during a military parade displaying various types of Iranian-made missiles, including Shahab-3 and Ghadr. Also taking part in the parade was a military truck carrying a huge banner saying "Israel should be eliminated from the universe" in both English and Farsi.

"If anyone allows himself to commit even a tiny offense against Iran's legitimate interests, borders and sacred land, our armed forces will break his hand before he pulls the trigger," Ahmadinejad said during the parade.

The phrase "legitimate interests" is Iranian parlance for the country's nuclear program, which the West says is a cover for developing nuclear weapons. Iran, which denies the charge, already is under three sets of sanctions by the U.N. Security Council over the issue.

Washington and its Western allies are pushing for quick passage of a fourth set of sanctions to underline the international community's resolve.

But Ahmadinejad said Sunday that sanctions only help Iran achieve self-sufficiency.

"Those who once imposed sanctions, today should open their eyes and see our nation's technical achievements," he said.

Both the United States and its ally Israel say they support a diplomatic solution to the nuclear standoff with Iran but cannot rule out the military option.

"Today, Iran is not in a position to show softness toward its enemies," said Ahmadinejad, but added that threats made against Iran's nuclear facilities amounted to only "psychological warfare."

Sunday's parade commemorated the start in 1980 of Iran's ruinous eight-year war with neighboring Iraq.

Meanwhile, the official IRNA news agency reported that on the sideline of the parade, the air force chief of the Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, Gen. Hossein Salami, rejected the notion that Iran had any ambitions for nuclear weapons, describing them as "ineffective."

"Any report about Iran's intention to use nuclear weapon is a sheer lie," he said, while adding that "our missiles are able to target the enemy's points in the region."

NCRI – Colonel Mehdi Ahmadi, the State Security Forces (SSF) – mullahs' suppressive police— spokesman said that 61 people were arrested for eating outdoors while 157 others were given warning citations for the same crime, reported the state-run website Tabnak on Friday.

"Four restaurants were sealed for selling food in the morning hours," Ahmadi said.

Police stopped seven divers and towed their vehicles away for violating the strict regulations imposed for the holy month of Ramadan. They ate while driving, the SSF spokesman added.

Eating in public is considered a serious violation of the law in the month of Ramadan in Iran. The only exception to the rule are passengers, provided that they can back their claim by presenting a valid airline, train or bus ticket. The   restaurants are allowed only to cook between the permitted hours posted by the police before Ramadan.
 
Three weeks into the Ramadan in Iran, harsh treatment of those breaking the fast has added to people's problems with the mullahs' regime.

In a figure given by the deputy chief of the SSF on September 9, nearly 26,000 citizens have already received warning citations for breaking their fast in the streets.

NCRI – Yahya Mohammad-Zadeh, the mullahs' prosecutor in the northern city of Tabriz announced that those violating the strict Ramadan penal code for refraining from eating or drinking will be whipped in public if the violators do not comply with the rules in the holy month, reported the state-run news agency Fars on Sunday.

"After 20 days into the month of Ramadan more than 50 people were sentences to whipping for violating Ramadan's rules," Mohammad-Zadeh said.

"However, we are prepared to enforce the law in public if necessary in the days remaining from Ramadan," he said.

According to article 638 of the Islamic criminal codes, eating in public is considered a crime punishable by law which includes whipping or fines.

With the start of Ramadan in Iran, harsh treatment of those breaking the fast has added to people's problems with the mullahs' regime.

In a figure given by the deputy chief of the SSF on September 11, nearly 26,000 citizens have already received warring citations for breaking their fast in the streets.
In a directive issued a few days before Ramadan, the SSF ruled that no one is allowed to consume food or beverages in public.