Iran has warned any military action from the US will be considered the "start of war" after Donald Trump threatened "violence".
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened attacks by Tehran on Israel if America launches military action "at any level".
His comments come after President Trump urged Iran to come to the table and make a deal on nuclear weapons.
Mr Shamkhani wrote to X: "A limited strike is an illusion.
"Any military action, from America from any origin and at any level, will be considered the start of war and its response will be immediate, all out and unprecedented, targeting the heart of Tel Aviv and all supporters of the aggressor."
In a lengthy post on Truth Social today, President Trump warned "time is running out", as he pressured Tehran to negotiate a "fair and equitable deal" over nuclear weapons.
"A massive Armada is heading to Iran," Mr Trump wrote. "It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose.
"It is a larger fleet, headed by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela.
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President Trump has urged Tehran to 'come to the table' and make a deal on nuclear weapons
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"Like with Venezuela, it is, ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfil its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary.
"Hopefully Iran will quickly 'Come to the Table' and negotiate a fair and equitable deal - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS - one that is good for all parties.
"Time is running out, it is truly of the essence! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was 'Operation Midnight Hammer,' a major destruction of Iran.
"The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again."
Ali Shamkhani, adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, warned Iran will target Israel if the US launches military action
|GETTY/KAVEH KAZEMI
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said he had not been in contact with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in recent days or requested negotiations, state media reported today.
Mr Araqchi said Iranian armed forces are ready with their fingers on the trigger to respond to any "aggression".
President Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene if Iran continued to kill protesters, but the countrywide demonstrations over economic privations and political repression have since abated.
He has also been firm in halting Iran's nuclear program.
Protests were sparked in Iran last month over the country's economy
|REUTERS
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today said the Iranian government is probably weaker than it has ever been and its economy in collapse, predicting protests will spark again in the future.
When asked at a hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on what the State Department's best estimate on how many people may have been killed in protests in Iran, Mr Rubio said: "Well...in the thousands for certain."