Iran warned the United States on Tuesday of the consequences of any attack on the Islamic Republic, the ISNA news agency said.
"The United States would suffer a more regrettable fate than that it met in Iraq and Afghanistan if it takes any action against Iran," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki vowed.
Mottaki's statement comes after the head of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, said Washington had not ruled out a possible military strike on Iran.
However, the Iranian minister said he was counting on "wise politicians" in the United States to prevent war with the Islamic Republic.
"We think that there are some wise politicians in the U.S. who are considering the issue," Mottaki said.
On Monday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proposed to his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama "a man-to-man talk in the presence of journalists to discuss the best solution to the world's problems".
Western powers suspect Iran of attempting to build nuclear weapons under the guise of civilian nuclear power generation. Iran denies the claims and says the program is aimed at the peaceful generation of civilian energy.
On June 9, the UN Security Council approved a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, including tougher financial controls and an expanded arms embargo, as well as an asset ban on three dozen companies and a travel freeze on individuals.
Later, the United States and the EU imposed extra unilateral sanctions against Iran, including tougher restrictions on the energy sector and a tougher trade embargo.
MOSCOW, August 3 (RIA Novosti)
