Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the country will crush any country that is used as a launch pad for a possible military operation against Iran.

"Today Iran has the power to turn any base that fires a bullet at Iran into hell," Ahmadinejad said in a speech in the central city of Semnan on Wednesday.

"In the past some [world powers] threatened Iran but today they cannot threaten Iran with their military power," he said.

"Today we declare that no country has the power to threaten Iran," Mehr news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.

"Unfortunately, today there are some people who think that compromise with enemies will remove threats but experience has shown that whenever Iran softens its stance the enemies are emboldened," he added.

"If we want the threats to be removed we should steadfastly resist against the enemies," Ahmadinejad concluded.

MGH/SME/RE