Brig. Gen. Masoud Jazayeri, Iran's deputy chief of staff of the armed forces for cultural affairs, told the Iranian news agency IRNA the "extremist and expansionist" policies demonstrated by Washington in Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Caucuses have put the entire world in jeopardy and would lead to a third world war if Iran is attacked.

He added the "so-called leading countries" are failing and would "soon witness great developments."

At the same time, IRNA quoted Jazayeri as calling for peace and co-existance with the West.

"Teachings of Islam and the aspirations of the Islamic Revolution uphold peace and tranquility throughout the globe and are totally against war and escalation of tension being stirred by the U.S. and international Zionism," he said.