Iran's warnings to Israel "serious": commander

TEHRAN, July 26 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian army officer said on Sunday that Iran's warnings to Israel against possible aggression are "serious," the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Head of Iran's Revolutionary guard Mohammad Ali Jafari speaks with the local media in Tehran July 25, 2009. The Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that Iran would strike Israel's nuclear facilities if Tel Aviv attacked the Islamic state, state television reported.  (Xinhua/Reuters photo)

"If the leaders of the occupying regime (of Israel) plan to attack our territories, the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will confront any act of aggression ... beyond its border sand will give them a decisive response," Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari, Commander of Iran's Army Ground Forces, was quoted as saying.

"The Islamic Republic armed forces enjoy the capability to respond to all threats in the best way possible," Heidari added.

On Saturday, the Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari downplayed recent military exercises by Israel, saying that a potential attack on Iran is unlikely, Fars said.

Earlier, Iran's Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hassan Shah-Safi said that Iran will prepare to tackle any threat, and the country needs to watch enemies' approach in the region.

The United States and Israel have consistently refused to rule out the possibility of military strikes against Iran over its refusal to halt its nuclear program.

The United States and its allies have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran has denied the charges and insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.