Tehran , Iran ( CNN ) -- Iran issued a warning to Israel on Wednesday , with a top military figure saying Iran will `` punish '' any threat . `` The United States is fully aware that a military attack by the Zionist regime on Iran will not only cause tremendous damage to that regime , but it will also inflict serious damage to the U.S. , '' said Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi , commander of the joint chiefs of staff , according to the semi-official Fars News Agency . `` We , as the military , take every threat , however distant and improbable , as very real , and are fully prepared to use suitable equipment to punish any kind of mistake , '' he added , according to a CNN translation of his remarks . Another semi-official Iranian news agency , ISNA , published a story in English quoting Firouzabadi as saying , `` The U.S. officials know that Zionist regime 's military attack against Iran will inflict heavy damages to the U.S. seriously as well as Zionist regime . '' The Israeli Ministry of Defense said Wednesday that Israel `` carried out the test-firing of a rocket propulsion system from the Palmachim military base . This had been planned by the Defense Establishment a long time ago and was carried out as scheduled . '' `` This is an impressive technological achievement and an important step in Israel 's advances in the realms of missiles and space , '' said Defense Minister Ehud Barak . The comments from Iran and the Israeli missile test come as a very public debate is taking place in Israel about the possibility of a military strike on the Islamic republic . Last week , Israel 's largest newspaper , Yedioth Ahronoth , published a report that suggested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Barak both supported a strike against Iran 's nuclear program . That story was followed up Wednesday by a report in the Israeli daily Haaretz that Netanyahu was lobbying members of his cabinet to support a military strike against Iran despite the various difficulties inherent in such an operation . The paper attributed the information to a senior Israeli official , but did not disclose identity of their source . Israeli and U.S. officials have expressed concerns that Iran is building nuclear weapons , despite Tehran 's insistence that its nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes . The publication of the two reports in the Israeli media brought criticism from cabinet members . `` A public debate about this is nothing less than a scandal . I do n't think we 've ever had anything like it , '' Dan Meridor , deputy prime minister and intelligence minister , told the Israeli newspaper Maariv . `` The public elected a government to make decisions about things like this in secret . The public 's right to know does not include the debate about classified matters like this . '' Speaking to Israeli radio , Benny Begin , a minister without portfolio , called the public debate about Iran `` a crazy free-for-all '' and criticized former Israeli intelligence officials for speaking too openly about government deliberations on Iran . The prime minister 's office would not comment on the newspaper reports and referred reporters to comments he made about Iran on Monday . `` Regional powers who have control in the Middle East will try to ensure they have greater influence on the new regimes -- influence that will not always support us or be of benefit to us , to say the least , '' Netanyahu said to Israeli legislators during the opening session of the Knesset . `` One of these regional forces is Iran , which continues its efforts to obtain nuclear weapons . A nuclear Iran would pose a dire threat on the Middle East and on the entire world . And of course , it poses a grave , direct threat on us too ... We operate and will continue to operate intensely and determinately against those who threaten the security of the state of Israel and its citizens . '' Shirzad Bozorgmehr reported from Iran ; Kevin Flower reported from Jerusalem .
Iranian military official : We will use ` ` suitable force '' to punish any attack . Israel test - fired a rocket defense system . The events come amid speculation in Iran about possible military action .