Iran on Monday warned of a "crushing" response to any Israeli move against the Islamic republic.
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Iran semi-official Mehr news agency quoted Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, head of the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarter and former deputy chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, as saying, "If Israel carries out attacks against Iran, our armed forces will immediately attack all centers, bases, routes, and spaces used to carry out the aggression."
He further said, "Any threat to the nuclear and military bases of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Zionist regime will not be possible without the green light and the support of the United States."
Earlier Monday, Mehr cited another unnamed "informed official" as warning Israel against any action against Iran while the nuclear talks continue in Vienna.
"Some unevaluated news, which we will take into consideration in a separate opportunity, suggests that the Zionist regime is examining to conduct acts of mischief against the Islamic Republic.
"The probability of this occurrence is not far from expected given the regime's acts of mischief in the past meant to damage the talks between Iran and other JCPOA members," he said.
According to the report, he said that were Israel to "take steps to pressure Iran into giving in to Western nations' demands" the result would be counterproductive, and "it will inevitably have a negative and deterrent effect on Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency."
The UN watchdog admitted last month that it no longer has the ability to properly monitor the Islamic republic's nuclear program due to Tehran's refusal to cooperate.
"Based on their inherent duties, the country's military and security forces will take any possible threats seriously and increase the level of necessary preparations to deal with them," the official told Mehr.
The officials' statements follow reports that, concerned by the West's inaction and the seemingly looming failure of the negotiations in Vienna, Israel has been stepping up preparations for a potential strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.
Also on Monday, Iran said that sounds heard near its Bushehr nuclear power plant were related to an air defense drill.
"This air defense exercise took place at 5 a.m. [local time] with full preparation and coordination with the armed forces," Bushehr's deputy governor Mohammadtaqi Irani told Iranian state media.
Some media outlets reported earlier that anti-aircraft fire had been heard in the area.
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