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Iran's president said that even before its enemies "get their hands on the trigger" the country's military would cut them off, it was reported today, in an escalating war of words that has stoked Middle East tension.

The comments by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came a day after a senior Iranian official said Iran would strike Israel and US bases in the region if the Islamic Republic was attacked over its disputed nuclear programme.

US leaders have not ruled out military options if diplomacy fails to assuage fears about Iran's nuclear activities, which Tehran says is only to produce electricity.

"Before the enemies get their hands on the trigger the armed forces will cut off their hands," the official IRNA news agency quoted Mr Ahmadinejad as telling reporters.

Israel, long assumed to have its own atomic arsenal, has sworn to prevent Iran from emerging as a nuclear-armed power.

Last month it staged an air force exercise that stoked speculation about a possible assault on Iranian nuclear sites.

Iran has vowed to strike back at Tel Aviv, as well as US interests and shipping, if it is attacked, asserting that missiles fired during wargames last week included ones that could hit Israel and US bases in the region.

Mr Ahmadinejad said the weaponry displayed in the Revolutionary Guards' missile exercise, which was condemned by Western powers, was only a small part of Iran's defence capability.

"In the event of necessity, additional parts of our defence capability will be put on display for the world to see," the president said.