"We must defend our state borders, and should Israel take any hostile action, we are ready to eliminate Israel from the world scene," Deputy Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said.
He said that the Iranian army is on constant alert due to the presence of "foreign forces" in the region.
"It is ready to decisively repel any attack," he said.
Ashtiani's comments echo President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's infamous 2005 "World Without Zionism" speech, in which he railed against the Israelis' occupation of Jerusalem.
Iran's defense minister said last Monday the world needs a missile shield to protect against threats from Israel and the United States.
Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said U.S. claims that the European missile shield would defend against Iran's missiles were nothing but a sham.
He said Tehran was open to cooperation with every country except Israel, which Iran does not recognize, to ensure stability and security in the Middle East.
