Nothing will remain of Israel if it attacks us, says Iran’s military leader

General Mohammad Ali Jafari said Iran’s response to any attack will begin near the Israeli border. Iran has close ties with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza on Israel’s borders.

Iran has in the past made reference to the destruction of Israel but General Ali Jafari’s comments at a Tehran news conference were unusually strongly worded and detailed. He said that oil shipments through the strategic Strait of Hormuz will be in jeopardy if a war breaks out between Iran and the United States.

General Jafari said an attack would mean Iran is no longer committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, under whose terms UN inspectors visit Iranian nuclear sites. This does not mean Iran would build a nuclear weapon.

The US and Israel have left open the possibility of a strike on Iran if diplomacy fails to stop what they say is a push for a nuclear weapon. Tehran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.

General Jafari said Iran believes the US won’t attack Iran because its Middle East military bases are within the range of Iran’s missiles.

Israel believes any attack would unleash retaliation in the form of Iranian missiles as well as rocket attacks by Hezbollah and Hamas.

General Jafari’s comments come as US-led naval forces, with Arab allies, gather for naval manoeuvres in the Persian Gulf that include mine-sweeping exercises.