TEHRAN -- President Mohammad Khatami here Tuesday said that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) is quite prepared to confront any foreign threats or adventures.

Meeting with the IRGC commanders, President Khatami said that the Islamic Republic of Iran's basic policy is based on commitment to principles, values and the protection of national interests.

Khatami also reiterated that there is no controversy between national interests and the values set by the Islamic Revolution.

Khatami also expressed Iran's opposition to a possible U.S. attack on Iraq, saying this will set a 'dangerous' precedence for bringing about changes in governments in the world.

He also called on Baghdad to observe UN resolutions amidst Iraq's announcement of readmitting UN weapons inspectors into that country.

"It is a dangerous precedence that any power, in view of its strength, attacks another country whenever it wants to," he said, adding any change in Iraq must come from its people.

"Iran rejects violence and resorting to violent means to confront violence," the Iranian president said in implicit reference to U.S. anti-terror campaign in the backdrop of the September 11 attack.

"Iraq also must submit to UN resolutions and the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns any aggression against the rights of the Iraqi people," he said as carried by IRNA.

Khatami described the Iraqi regime as the cause of "several world powers' adventurism, malevolence and expansionism" in the region.

"The Iraqi regime has turned into the cause of adventurism in the region and the question to ask is where this adventurism arises from," he said.

Khatami, who is also the head of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), stressed Iran's detente and trust-building policies in addition to maintaining its defense preparedness.

"Detente policy does not mean we do not think of defending ourselves and repelling those who are seeking to foment tensions," he said.

He called on the country's armed forces to keep up their defense readiness against any probable threats. "A country like the Islamic Republic of Iran is always under threat and we need to strengthen our might," Khatami said. The armed forces are the backbone of Iran's detente policy, he said adding, "regional countries have fully realized that a powerful Iran is not a threat to their interests; it is rather a strong impetus to peace and stability in the region."

Khatami also hailed the IRGC, saying they were prepared 'to confront any threat and plot' thanks to their 'calculated organization and access to various skills'.

The Iranian president further hailed Palestinian intifada (uprising) in the occupied lands and described the Zionist regime as the cause of insecurity in the world and the Middle East.

"The Zionist regime is the source of tensions and confrontations in the region and the world and America's improper policies have also caused and will cause tensions," Khatami said.

"The Palestinian intifada is the outcry of a nation which has waken up. If we seek peace and security and removal of tensions, there is no way but to recognize the rights of the oppressed Palestinian people," he added.

Supporting the world oppressed is among principles and values of the Islamic Revolution, but this does not mean Iran wants to interfere in internal affairs of others, Khatami said.