The Deputy Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces says the country's commanders have been given authorization to respond immediately to enemy attacks, Press TV reports.
"Our commanders have received authorization to immediately respond to any hostile action by the enemy without allowing enemy to think twice [about its act of aggression]," Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri said on Saturday.
Jazayeri made the remarks in response to Israeli leaders threat to use force against the Islamic Republic over the country's nuclear energy program.
Addressing the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on March 4, Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that although Iran has not yet crossed "the red line" in its nuclear energy program, it is "putting itself in a position" to do so "very quickly."
"Words alone will not stop Iran. Sanctions alone will not stop Iran. Sanctions must be coupled with a clear and credible military threat if diplomacy and sanctions fail," Netanyahu added.
"The era of threat, intimidation and childish games of carrot and stick is over," Jazayeri said.
The Iranian commander stated that the expansionist regimes would face numerous and unpredictable problems if they do not understand the situation of the world and the region.
Washington and Tel Aviv have repeatedly threatened Tehran with a military strike to force the country to halt its nuclear energy program, claimed by the duo to have been diverted towards non-civilian purposes.
Tehran rejects the allegation and maintains that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.