Region does not need "satanic" foreign forces: Iran

By Hossein Jaseb

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday "satanic" foreign forces had failed in their bid to dominate the Middle East's energy resources and did not dare threaten Iran.

Ahmadinejad also said at a military parade the region could handle its own security without U.S. and other foreign forces although he did not name arch foe, the United States.

Iran is embroiled in a row over its nuclear program, which the United States says is a covert bid to make nuclear weapons. Iran, the world's fourth biggest oil producer, denies this and says its aim is to generate electricity.

Washington says it wants diplomacy to end the dispute but has not ruled out military action. Analysts say the possibility of strikes seem remote after a U.S. intelligence report last year said Iran halted a nuclear weapons program in 2003.

"We saw that oppressive, arrogant ... and satanic powers planned, using a suspicious excuse to gain dominance over the world's energy reserves ..., brought their troops to our region," Ahmadinejad said at the annual ceremony.

"Today they have failed," he said in the televised address shortly before warplanes and helicopters flew overhead and troops marched passed the podium set up south of Tehran.

Equipment on show included several missiles on trucks but did not include the Shahab-3, which officials have said is Iran's longest range projectile capable of hitting targets 2,000 km (1,250 miles) away.

"The Iranian nation has reached a level that none of the world powers dare to threaten (it)," he said, adding that Iran would respond "powerfully" to any attack.