Iran to "blow up heart" of Israel if attacked

Teheran, 09 Oct-(ANA)-Iran would "blow up the heart" of Israel if it was attacked by the Jewish state or the United States, a Revolutionary Guards official has said.

"Even if one American or Zionist missile hits our country, before the dust settles, Iranian missiles will blow up the heart of Israel," the Iranian News Agency (IRNA) quoted Mojtaba Zolnour as saying.

Zolnour is a deputy representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the elite Guards force. Iranian officials have previously said Tehran would retaliate in event of an Israeli or U.S attack.

Earlier this year, a senior commander said Iranian missiles could reach Israeli nuclear sites. Israel is believed to be the only nuclear-armed Middle East state.

Israel has not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to end a dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions, echoing U.S. policy, although Washington is engaged in a drive to resolve the issue through direct talks with Iran.

The West suspects the Islamic state is covertly seeking to develop nuclear weapons, which Iran denies. (ANA)

FA/ANA/09 October 2009---