Some Western media have long been circulating rumors of an 'imminent" attack on the Islamic Republic planned by either the United States or Israel in order to force Tehran to abandon its controversial uranium enrichment program.
"Even a slightest hint [on a possibility of the attack] will lead to an increase [in global oil prices] by $10-15, but in case of a real aggression against Iran, the oil prices will rise to unpredictable highs," Gholamhossein Nozari told reporters in Tehran.
"Any attack on our country will meet an incredibly powerful response," he added.
Iran ranks fourth in terms of crude reserves after Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait, as well as fourth in terms of oil production after Saudi Arabia, the United States and Russia.
In the past two years, oil production in Iran exceeded 4 million barrels per day, currently at 4.21 million, which is a new record since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Oil prices have risen more than 50 percent so far this year. Crude futures reached a record high of $145.85 in New York on Thursday before settling at a record close of $145.29 a barrel.
The Islamic Republic, suspected of plans to build weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear program, is under three sets of UN Security Council sanctions for defying international demands to halt uranium enrichment, needed both in weapons production and electricity generation.
On June 14, European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, handed Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki a package of new incentives from the Iran six - China, France, Russia, the United States, Germany and Britain -- to persuade Tehran to suspend its nuclear research. The proposals offered political, security and trade benefits to Iran.
No details were released of Iran's formal reply submitted to Solana late on Friday but Tehran reiterated on Saturday that it would still pursue its uranium enrichment program.
"Iran's stance [on uranium enrichment] has not changed; however, we are ready to hold talks in the framework of preserving Iran's nuclear rights," government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham told a news conference.
