US, Israel do not dare attack: Iranian official

Tehran, Nov 25: Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said the United States would not dare to attack Iran and Tehran did not take seriously any threats of invasion, Iran's student news agency ISNA reported today.

Larijani's remarks, made at a meeting with Pakistani media officials in Tehran, came amid growing calls for the United States to engage Iran and Syria in efforts to curb violence and prevent civil war in Iraq.

''America has weak points in the West Asia and will never dare go through another military adventure,'' Larijani said, when questioned about the possibility of a US or Israeli attack to stop Iran's nuclear programme.

''Israel is not in the position to attack us either, things they say are sheer slogans,'' Larijani said, ''We do not take such slogans seriously ... and if they do that (attack Iran) they will receive a decisive response,'' he added.

Iran has been referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions. The West accuses Iran of pressing ahead with a covert nuclear weapons plan through its uranium enrichment programme.

Iran denies the charges, saying it needs nuclear energy to generate electricity and meet its growing energy demands.

Reuters