Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan. Photo: The government of Iran.

An Iranian general issued new threats against Israel and the United States on Saturday, the country’s semi-official state news agency Fars reported.

Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan, Iran’s minister of defense, promised a “crushing response” to any American or Israeli military action against the Islamic Republic.

Dehqan called both countries “warmongering, aggressive, bloodthirsty and anti-human rights,” while belittling their military capabilities, by alleging that weaker powers — such as Somalia, Lebanon and the Palestinians — have been able to wreak “defeat, failure and humiliation” on them.

“Hence, when it comes to the powerful Iranian nation with its old civilization, the country will be ready to give an unforgettable lesson to [Washington and Jerusalem],” he boasted.

According to the report, Dehqan’s tirade was intended as a reaction to statements made by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter at a press conference in Washington, DC last week.

Carter said that Iran must comply with the nuclear deal agreed with world powers in July or face the consequences. “I’m under instructions from President Obama to make sure the military option remains intact,” Carter said.

“These two gentlemen had better start writing their memoirs now,” Dehqan warned Carter and Ya’alon. “As they will not have the opportunity to do so in the future.”