Iran 's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Tuesday that his country would hit back at any attack by the U.S. or Israel , raising tensions with the West over the country's nuclear program.

"We have said that we do not have atomic weapons and we will not build any. But if there is any attack by the enemies, whether it be United States or the Zionist regime, we will attack them at the same level as they attack us," he said in a live speech on television to mark the start of the Iranian new year.

The comments reinforced Iran 's position as it faces off against the West over its nuclear activities, and as it confronts Israeli and U.S. threats of possible military action.

Khamenei, who was speaking in the western city of Mashhad , said Iran had a divine right to retaliate if struck.

"The Quran states that if an enemy attacks you first, the enemy will certainly be defeated," he said.

"This is God's law. We are not thinking of attacks and aggression, but we are attached to the existence and identity of the Islamic republic."
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