Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gestures before delivering a speech in Mashad, Iran, March 21, 2018. Photo: Leader.ir / Handout via Reuters.

Iran could destroy Israel, so it should avoid any “stupid measures” against the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s representative to the Quds Force said on Thursday according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

“If Israel wants to continue its treacherous existence … it should avoid stupid measures. If they give excuses to Iran, Tel Aviv and Haifa will be destroyed,” cleric Ali Shirazi was quoted by Fars as saying. “Iran can destroy Israel.”

The Quds Force is the espionage and paramilitary wing, in charge of overseas operations, of the elite Revolutionary Guards.

Fars said Shirazi made the comments in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Wednesday speech at Israel’s annual Holocaust commemorations when he called for action against Iran.

The United States has threatened air strikes against Syria over the use of chemical weapons that Syria and its allies Iran and Russia deny.