Iran will “attack the heart of Tel Aviv” if Israel attacks the Islamic
Republic’s nuclear facilities, the Fars News Agency quoted a senior Iranian
cleric as saying on Saturday.
“They do not dare to damage our nuclear
centers and know very well that any move against the Islamic Republic will make
them regret,” Hojjatoleslam Seyed Reza Taqavi said.
The comments came as
Israel accused Iran and its proxy Hezbollah of responsibility for Wednesday’s
terrorist attack in Bulgaria in which five Israelis were killed.
Both
Tehran and Hezbollah have denied any involvement in the attack.
“The
unfounded statements by different statesmen of the Zionist regime in connection
with the accusations against Iran about its possible participation in the
incident with the blown-up bus with Israeli tourists in Burgas is a familiar
method of the Zionist regime, with a political aim, and is a sign of the
weakness... of the accusers,” the Islamic Republic’s mission in Sofia said in a
statement on Thursday.
Some analysts believe Iran is trying to avenge the
assassinations of several scientists involved in its nuclear program that it
blames on Israel and the United States. Israeli diplomats have been targeted in
several countries in recent months by bombers who the Jewish state maintained
had struck on behalf of Tehran.
The Bulgarian blast occurred on the 18th
anniversary of a bomb attack on Argentina’s main Jewish center that killed 85
people and wounded more than 300. Argentina blamed Iran.
Reuters
contributed to this report.
