TEHRAN While the world continues to protest against the recent bellicose remarks of U.S. leaders, Iranian officials stated yesterday that the Islamic Republic of Iran possesses adequate defenses and can counter any invasion.

Iranian officials said that dreams of dominating Iranian territories would result in irreparable damage to the dreamer.

In the meantime Iranian groups, dignitaries and the heads of the three branches of government in prompt statements warned U.S. leaders that they are united to defend the national interests of Iran and the Islamic Republic. They warned that if the Great Satan [the U.S.] and the Little Satan [the Zionist regime] have concluded that Iran is weak because of the differences of opinion in the country, they have not yet recognized the heroic Iranian nation and have not learned from history.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza Assefi said that Iran's significant position and world public opinion would not allow any country to intimidate it. He told a press conference of both Iranian and foreign journalists that, in light of George W. Bush's recent statement about Iran being part of an "axis of evil", he hoped that the U.S. does not make an irreversible mistake.

He said the allegations are illusory and unjustifiable and not based on facts, and added that a politician should be sensible enough to support accusations of wrongdoing with conclusive documented evidence.

The spokesman further said that claims had been repeatedly in various forums by U.S. officials as part of a policy of Zionist propaganda, since Washington's position on international issues are strongly influenced by the Zionist regime.

Assefi also denied claims that Iran is harboring Al-Qaeda or Taleban fugitives, since the Islamic Republic has nothing to gain by providing them shelter and has no motive to do so.

"Iran does not share the ideological beliefs of the Taleban and sees no reason why stability should not be brought to Afghanistan," the official said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Sunday he had no doubt that Tehran helped members of the Al-Qaeda network and its allies, Afghanistan's former ruling Taleban, escape into Iran from Afghanistan.

---- COMMANDER OF AIR FORCES: AIR ZONES UNDER FULL CONTROL -----

The Commander of Iran's Air Forces, Brigadier General Seyed Reza Pardis, said on Monday that the Air Forces of the Iranian Army will defend Iranian airspace. He said that the U.S. threats are not a new issue and there is no need for concern because there is the possibility of fighting against such threats. Pardis stated that the world no longer tolerates countries trying to impose their will on other nations.

Pardis also said that the Iranian Air Forces have developed advanced laser and missile technology, adding that Iranian fighters can now carry and fire six missiles.

On the money the U.S. owes to Iran for warplanes that Iran purchased but never received, he said that the issue is being investigated by the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

----- Commander of Naval Forces: Iran Will Fight Against Any Attack ----

Meanwhile, the Commander of the Islamic of Republic of Iran Naval Forces, Brigadier Abbas Mohtaj, said in Noushahr on Monday that the Naval Forces will fight against any attack.

Speaking in a meeting with students of the Imam Khomeini Naval University in Noushahr, he said that all units of the Naval Forces including air, underwater and surface forces, were ready to defend Iran's territorial integrity.