Iran’s supreme leader warns to hit back at any U.S.-Israeli strike

Iran would strike back at any attack by the United States and Israel, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Tuesday, firming tensions in the showdown over Tehran’s nuclear program.

“We have said that we do not have atomic weapons and we will not build any. But if there is any attack by the enemies, whether it be United States or the Zionist regime, we will attack them at the same level as they attack us,” he said in live televised address on the occasion of the Iranian New Year.

The comments reinforced Iran’s position as it faces off against the West over its nuclear activities, and as it confronts Israeli and U.S. threats of possible military action.

Khamenei, who was speaking in the western city of Mashhad, said Iran had a divine right to retaliate if struck.

“The Qoran states that if an enemy attacks you first, the enemy will certainly be defeated,” he said.

“This is God’s law. We are not thinking of attacks and aggression, but we are attached to the existence and identity of the Islamic republic.”

Khamenei also addressed the economic conditions in the country following the stifling sanctions imposed by the European and the United States.

He urged Iranians to continue their “economic Jihad” and called for increased “domestic production” to overcome Western sanctions.

“If domestic production prospers, most of the enemies’ efforts will undoubtedly fail,” the semi-official Fars news agency

Khamenei also praised the country’s “great accomplishments” in 2011, a year he said was eventful for the Iran and the world.

“What one witnesses is that these events generally were to Iran’s benefit and conductive to the [country’s] objectives. Those in Western countries who pursue malevolent objectives against Iran and Iranians are having various problems.”

“Those countries in the region that the Islamic Republic has always supported have achieved great goals, [some] dictators were overthrown and constitutions based on Islam were passed in some countries,” Khamanei said.

“The number one enemy of the Islamic Ummah (community) and the Iranian nation, namely the Zionist regime has been surrounded,” he added.