Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar pledged a swift and destructive revenge for any potential attack, the official IRNA news agency reported on Friday.

"Iran's defense policy was quite defensive, but the Iranian armed forces would provide a rapid, strong and destructive response if the country faced any aggression," Najjar was quoted as saying in the southeastern city of Zahedan.

Najjar was replying to a question about Iran's reaction if Israel and the United States carried out threat to launch preemptive attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Najjar, who is accompanying President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a three-day visit to the region, stressed that the vigilance of the Iranian nation and readiness of its armed forces "would give way to no aggression".

The minister also cited former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, saying his "sad fate after attacking Iran should teach a lesson to the Zionist regime officials".

The United States has accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the cover of a nuclear power program, a charge rejected by Tehran as politically motivated.

Iran's upgraded version of Shahab-3 medium-range ballistic missile is capable of striking Israel.

Source: Xinhua