Iran threatens to hurt U.S. 'ten times more' as Israel 'plans attack on Tehran within two months'

The U.S. is desperately trying to talk Israel out of an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities amidst fears a strike could come within just two months. Iran, which is being accused of preparing to build a nuclear bomb, says it will retaliate over Western-backed oil sanctions and any attack threat, Daily Mail reports.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is reportedly fearful of a growing chance Israel would attack Iran as early as April to stop it building a bomb.

‘Threatening Iran and attacking Iran will harm America,’ Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned in a defiant speech on Friday. ‘Sanctions will not have any impact on ‘our determination to continue our nuclear course’ and it will impose any threats ‘at the right time’, he added. ‘I have no fear of saying that we will back and help any nation or group that wants to confront and fight against the Zionist regime (Israel).’

America is leaning heavily on Israel, even though it has largely concluded that outside argument will have little effect on Israeli decision-making. The stand-off poses a major political challenge for President Obama, who has been regularly mocked by most of the GOP presidential candidates for failing to take a tougher stance against Iran.

Israel fears that Iran is fast approaching a point at which a limited military strike no longer would be enough to head off an Iranian bomb. Secretary Panetta believes Israel could strike before Iran enters a 'zone of immunity' to start building a nuclear bomb, reported the Washington Post.

The Israelis fear the Iranians will soon have ‘enough enriched uranium in deep underground facilities to make a weapon’, the newspaper reported.

Khamenei said any U.S. strike against Iran would backfire and the ‘painful and crippling’ Western sanctions would only increase its resilience. ‘Americans say all options are on the table - even the option of military strike,’ he said. ‘Any military strike is ten times more harmful for America.