The Latest from Iran (24 June): "We Can Destroy Anyone"

1515 GMT: Foreign Affairs (Syrian Front). Fars reports that State broadcaster IRIB will air an hour-long interview with Syrian President Assad on Thursday.

0945 GMT: Currency Watch. Why the nerves in the Iranian media over the economy (see 0750 GMT)? Here's one reason....

The Iranian Rial has fallen 5% this week, dropping to 19060:1 against the US dollar. That is its weakest level since the Central Bank and Government intervened this winter to halt a slide of almost 80%.

The official rate for the Rial is 12260:1 vs. the dollar.

0750 GMT: Economy Watch. Signs in the Iranian press of economic discontent --- the two lead articles in Alef are on the "immorality and ignorance of Iranian producers" and on the exchange rate and corruption. Khabar Online uses a cartoon to cover the latter issue.

0745 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. HRANA reports that at least 15 people were arrested during protests over Thursday's executions of four Arab-Iranians in Ahwaz.

0635 GMT: With continued political caution in Tehran, both over domestic affairs and the nuclear talks with the US and Europe, Saturday --- or Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Day --- was handed over to the military to make dramatic announcements.

After the Deputy Chief of Armed Forces, Brigadier General Mostafa Izadi, assured that an Israeli attack would lead to the end of the "Zionist regime", IRGC Commander Hossein Salami explained that Iranian forces could destroy any foe:

I hold doubt if the US and Russia which once pioneered in the missile industry have this capability, but as far as our country is concerned I announce very decisively that we have made this achievement that we can hit all mobile targets with 100 percent success. In regard to other components of defense power, we are capable of attacking enemy's strategy and its vital interests in any place and at the same level that it acts.