Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Iran would retaliate over oil sanctions backed by Western countries, and any threat of attack, after U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was cited as saying he feared a possible Israeli strike.
Khamenei's speech, marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, was the first direct response to tighter sanctions imposed by the West. These sanctions are in response to Tehrans nuclear program.
"Threatening Iran and attacking Iran will harm America ... Sanctions will not have any impact on our determination to continue our nuclear course ... In response to threats of oil embargo and war, we have our own threats to impose at the right time," Khamenei told worshippers in a speech broadcast live on state television.
"I have no fear of saying that we will back and help any nation or group that wants to confront and fight against the Zionist regime (Israel),' he said.
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