“We are not seeking a military confrontation, but if that happens we will give the enemy a lesson that will be remembered throughout history,” Abdolrahim Moussavi, head of the joint chiefs of staff, was quoted as saying by the ISNA students news agency.
“This nation has proved its will many times to its enemies. Why do they want to test this great nation once again?” he said, addressing a meeting of troops.
Iran was reported to the U.N. Security Council on Saturday after failing to allay suspicions that it is seeking nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge.
Iran said on Sunday it had ended voluntary implementation of a protocol allowing snap U.N. inspections of its nuclear sites and halted its suspension of uranium enrichment.
The United States and Israel have said they prefer diplomacy as a means to solve the dispute over Iran’s atomic programme but have declined to rule out military options.
Iran is armed with an unknown number of Shahab-3 ballistic missiles that could reach Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf.
