A long-range Shahab-3 ballistic missile is displayed during the annual military parade commemorating the eight-year Iran-Iraq War, in Tehran Sept. 22, 2006. -Xinhua

Iran staged a military parade on Friday to commemorate its 1980-1988 war with Iraq, in which many missiles were displayed.

Correspondent from Xinhua saw thousands of soldiers holding rifles marching past Iranian Vice President Parviz Davoodi and other high ranking officials to the accompaniment of martial music.

Two green Shahab-3 mid-range surface-to-surface missile, whose range covers 2,000 km, rolled past the south Tehran shrine of the father of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

The range of Shahab-3 was believed to be 1300 km, but it was reported that Iran had extend the range in the past year.

In addition, Nazeat M6 and Zelzal 1 missiles as well as battle tanks towed past on trucks were also shown at the parade.

Davoodi told the parade that Iran's armed forces would fight back "like lightning" against any attack from the enemies."We can defend our motherland and the Islam, we want peace but we tell the expansionists not to try to launch an aggression against Iran," Davoodi said.

Meanwhile, the vice president reiterated Tehran's denial of U.S.allegations that it was seeking nuclear weapons, saying, "Our armed forces have no need for their power to be based on atomic weapons, this power is based on our convictions.

"The military parade was staged without the presence of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who wound up his journey to New York to attend the 61st annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.

In April, Ahmadinejad held another parade in the Army Day and vowed to "cut down the hands of any aggressors".Iran's top officials have also warned to retaliate, using oil as weapons or long-range missiles, if the country is attacked by its enemies.