A senior Iranian military official has urged regional countries to strengthen their relations with the Islamic Republic instead of Israel.

Spokesman for Iran’s Armed Forces Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi told Mehr news agency on Tuesday that the smallest strategic mistake by Israel “will be met with our harshest response” without directly referring to the recent Israeli threats against the Islamic Republic.

He commented on Israel’s regional alliances without mentioning normalization of ties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, saying, “We do not consider the Zionist regime to have capability to cause insecurity for the Islamic Republic.”

"We advise the countries of the region that in fact they should look at the powerful country of Iran as a very strong and independent neighbor and strengthen their relations with the Islamic Republic to preserve their dignity," Shekarchi said, adding that “The Zionist regime is hated by all nations no matter their religion.”

Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned on Sunday that even if a nuclear deal is signed, Iran must be stopped from becoming a nuclear threshold state.

Moreover, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid urged the United States on Monday not to remove Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) from its list of terrorist groups, as nuclear talks in Vienna near a conclusion.

Lapid said, “The terrible nuclear deal is about to be signed in Vienna. Iran is seeking to cancel the Revolution Guard’s listing as a terrorist organization. If they’re not a terror group, then what are they? A folk dancing troupe?”