TEHRAN, Iran — Iran said yesterday that if it’s attacked by Israel, it will annihilate Tel Aviv and Haifa.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all key decisions in Iran, made the comments in a speech in northeastern Iran on the first day of the new Persian calendar year. His address, in the city of Mashhad, was broadcast on state radio.
Israel has threatened to take military action against Iran if diplomacy fails to stop Tehran’s alleged nuclear-weapons program.
The prospect of Iran developing nuclear weapons was one of the key issues discussed during meetings this week between President Obama and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trying to reassure Israelis, Obama said diplomacy is the first recourse with Iran, but insisted “all options” remain open.
Khamenei yesterday said he’s not opposed to direct talks with the United States to resolve the nuclear standoff, but said he isn’t optimistic unless Washington stops imposing sanctions on Iran.