NASSER KARIMI, Tehran
Iran's supreme leader said yesterday that if the United States attacked Iran, the country would respond by striking US interests all over the world.
The comments by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came as Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Javad Zarif, warned that efforts to isolate Iran would backfire on the United States, increasing tensions in the Middle East, including Iraq.
Tensions are escalating over Iran's nuclear programme and US allegations of Iranian influence in Iraq.
The United States has denied it plans to strike Iran militarily, a denial repeated yesterday by Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary.
However, the US has sent an additional aircraft carrier to the Gulf in an effort to show strength in the face of rising Iranian regional influence.
Addressing air force commanders, Khamenei said: "The enemy knows well that any invasion would be followed by a comprehensive reaction to the invaders and their interests all over the world."
Iran's intelligence minister, meanwhile, said the government had detected a network of USand Israeli spies.
The allegation comes days after an Iranian diplomat was detained in Baghdad, in an incident that Iran blamed on US forces. The Americans have denied involvement.
The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on Iran for refusing to cease uranium enrichment. The council is due to consider stronger sanctions later this month.-AP
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