Iranian generals joined a sick stunt in which explosives were used to blow up symbols of the American and Israeli governments after vowing to “destroy England”.
The senior officials attended an annual display in a village near Tehran in which miniature missiles were fired at Israeli flags and a model of the US capitol building.
The events were filmed for a documentary that aired on Iranian television station Ofogh TV at the start of this month.
General Ali Fazli of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told the filmmakers: “This symbolic missile demonstrates their [the villagers’] willpower and their faith.”
A speaker opening the ceremony then said: “Prepare to erase Israel from the annals of history.
“This mark of shame will quickly and permanently be erased from the annals of the world.
“This base of global Zionism, England, and America – we shall raze it to the ground.”
One of the missiles also carried a quote from former Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini, who died in 1989, which reads: “Israel must be erased from the annals of history.”
Since the 1979 revolution, the Iranian regime has refused to recognise the state of Israel and severed all diplomatic and commercial ties with the country.
At the ceremony, the crowd counted down to the launch of the missiles as shouts of “Allah Akbar! Death to America!” could be heard.
Relations between America and Iran have worsened dramatically since last year, when the US withdrew from a deal regulating Iran’s nuclear programme and reimposed economic sanctions.
Last week, Iran’s foreign minister said that America “cannot expect to remain safe”, as the UN’s nuclear watchdog warned that Tehran had accelerated its enrichment of uranium.
After the missiles had been fired, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a commander in the IRGC Aerospace force, part of the Iranian air force, addressed a crowd of locals.
“What you symbolically showed us today – especially the launching of the missiles and all the efforts you invested – have great meaning for me, for the senior officials, and for the Iranian people,” he said, according to a translation by the Middle East Media Research Institute monitoring group.
He added: “We have brought here today a very precious gift.
“Last night, when we informed the Leader [current supreme leader, Ali Khameini], that we could come here to participate with you dear people in this ceremony, the honourable leader entrusted me with the mission of sending his regards to your dear families.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
