Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters at a weekly press conference that Tehran is unconcerned by the threat of an Israeli attack on the country.

Mehmanparast dismissed Israeli rhetoric about military action to halt Iran’s nuclear program as “hollow and baseless,” according to an AFP report on Tuesday.

“Even if some officials in the illegitimate regime [Israel] want to carry out such a stupid action, there are those inside who won’t allow it because they know they would suffer very severe consequences from such an act,” Mehmanparast said.

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According to the report, the ISNA news agency said that Iranian Defense Minister General Ahmad Vahidi also derided Israeli threats of an attack as “a sign of weakness” by “brainless leaders,” and added that Israel “definitely doesn’t have what it takes to endure Iran’s might and will.”

The statements come in the wake of recent Israeli media reports, based on leaks and off-the-record briefings by senior figures, suggesting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are close to deciding on an Israeli attack to thwart Iran — despite opposition from the US, and from current and former domestic security chiefs.

Although Iran claims its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, Israel is convinced that it is directed towards weapons development and therefore must be halted by any means, including a military strike. Although the US and Western nations have introduced a series of sanctions against Iran, the nuclear program appears to be continuing unabated.