The Islamic Republic of Iran warned on Thursday it would not hesitate to hit back following any foreign attack on its soil.

The Islamic Republic of Iran warned on Thursday it would not hesitate to hit back following any foreign attack on its soil.

In a formal complaint to the United Nations over a warning from French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Iran's UN ambassador said in a letter to UN leaders that his country would "not hesitate to act in self-defense to respond to any attack against the Iranian nation."

Sarkozy said last week that Iran's "military, nuclear and ballistic ambitions constitute a growing threat that may lead to a preventive attack against Iranian sites that would provoke a major crisis that France wants to avoid at all costs".

Iran would "take appropriate defensive measures to protect itself", ambassador Mohammad Khazaee told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council.
The envoy also described Sarkozy’s remarks as “inflammatory and baseless allegations”.

Khazaee again denied the charge that his country was seeking a nuclear weapon.
"Iran is a leading nation in rejecting and opposing all kinds of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons," said Khazaee.
"Moreover I wish to reiterate my government's position that the Islamic Republic of Iran has no intention to attack any other nations."

In an August 31 speech to French ambassadors, Sarkozy said that Iran “refuses to negotiate seriously" and declared that France would work with its allies to build support for tougher international sanctions.
However, he did not say which country might carry out the preventive attack.