Iran warns: 'We'll burn down Tel Aviv'

TEL AVIV – If the U.S. or Israel attacks Iran, Tehran will retaliate by "burning down" Tel Aviv and U.S. naval forces in the Persian Gulf, an official from the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guards warned today.

According to a report in Iran's state-run INSA news service, the Revolutionary Guards began a military exercise that includes training for missile squads. The report did not say when or where the exercise is taking place.

The report quotes guard official Ali Shirazi – Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's representative to the Revolutionary Guards – warning that Tel Aviv and American warships in the Gulf would be among the first targets if Iran comes under attack.

"The first bullet fired by America at Iran will be followed by Iran burning down its vital interests around the globe," Ali Shirazi was quoted as saying in a speech to Revolutionary Guards.

"The Zionist regime is pressuring White House officials to attack Iran. If they commit such a stupidity, Tel Aviv and U.S. shipping in the Persian Gulf will be Iran's first targets, and they will be burned," Shirazo said.

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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman, Mark Regev, declined to comment on the threat to hit Tel Aviv, telling reporters only: "Shirazi's words speak for themselves."

The Iranian threats comes amid media speculation regarding an Israeli attack against Iran. It also come one month after it was reported the Jewish state held a major military exercise over the Mediterranean Sea involving more than 100 aircraft. The drill was widely seen as Israeli preparations for a possible bombing of Iran's nuclear installations.

According to some reports last week, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, who visited Israel last month, told the Jewish state it does not have a "green light" from the U.S. to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.

Last week, WND conducted an exclusive interview with Meir Amit, a former head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, who said Israel should use force to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons

The comments from Amit, one of the most esteemed figures in the Israeli intelligence establishment, are significant, since he previously had refused to support an attack against Iran.

"I am in favor of using the power of force against Iran, because if we let things go as they are we will find ourselves in a very dangerous situation," Amit said. "We have good intelligence, and we shall decide what is the right timing for any attack."

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