Iran: Israel is no Match for the Islamic Republic's Capabilities

"There is the possibility that by attacking Iranian nuclear sites the enemy wants to delay our nuclear activities, but any interruption would be very short since Iranian scientific ability is different from that of Syria and Iraq." "The US needs Israel," he said. "They may claim the US could attack Iran independently, but we're certain the US couldn't do it without Israel's cooperation."

Jafari also said Iran would impose controls on shipping in the vital Gulf oil transit route if the Islamic Republic came under attack. "Naturally every country under attack by an enemy uses all its capacity and opportunities to confront the enemy. Regarding the main route for exiting energy, Iran will definitely act to impose control on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz," he said.

"If there is a confrontation between us and the enemy from outside the region, definitely the scope will reach the oil issue," Jafari said. "After this action the oil price will rise very considerably and this is among the factors deterring the enemies."

His comments came after US media reported that more than 100 Israeli warplanes staged a training exercise with Greece earlier this month to prepare for a possible long-distance strike -- a maneuver seen as a warning to Tehran.

Washington and Israel fear Iran would use its nuclear program to build a nuclear weapon but Tehran deny seeking to manufacture an atomic bomb, and say the country's nuclear ambitions extend only to generating electricity for a growing population.

Israeli Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, a former defense chief, said in an interview published in the Russian press on Wednesday that Iran would be "annihilated" if it tried to attack Israel.

Last Sunday Iran's defense minister dismissed reports that Israel had conducted a dry run for air strikes against its nuclear drive as "psychological operations," but warned of a limitless response to an attack. "Iran will not begin any conflict but will punish any aggressor with force. With determination and using all the options -- without limit in time and space -- we will give a destructive response to any hostile action," Mostafa Mohammad Najar said.

Source: Al'Jazeera