Iran's Revolutionary Guards warn Israel against any attack

TEHRAN, May 22 (Reuters/AFP): Israel will receive a "devastating and decisive response" if it attacks Iran, Tehran's Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday, days after CNN reported US intelligence suggesting Israel was making preparations to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.

"They are trying to frighten us with war but are miscalculating as they are unaware of the powerful popular and military support the Islamic Republic can muster in war conditions," Guards spokesperson Alimohammad Naini said, according to state media.

Tehran and Washington will hold a fifth round of nuclear talks on Friday in Rome amid strong disagreement over uranium enrichment in Iran, which the US says is a possible pathway to developing nuclear bombs. Iran denies any such intent.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would hold the United States responsible for any Israeli attack on its nuclear facilities, after US media reported that Israel was preparing for a strike.

The report came even as Iran and the United States were set to meet in Rome on Friday for a fifth round of Omani-mediated nuclear talks.

"We believe that in the event of any attack on the nuclear facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Zionist regime, the US government will also be involved and bear legal responsibility," Araghchi said in a letter to the United Nations published on Thursday.

"Iran strongly warns against any adventurism by the Zionist regime and will respond decisively to any threat or unlawful act by this regime," Araghchi added.

On Tuesday, CNN reported that Israel was making preparations to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.

The nuclear talks, which began on April 12, are the highest-level contact between the long-time foes since the United States in 2018 pulled out of a landmark deal between Iran and world powers, during President Donald Trump's first term in office.