TEHRAN — Iranian officials lashed out on Tuesday at remarks by the top U.S. military chief that Washington had a plan to attack Tehran, saying the U.S. would suffer a defeat worse than in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Sunday the United States has drawn up the plan to prevent Iran getting nuclear weapons, but was “extremely concerned” about the upshot of any such attack.

Speaking on U.S. television, Mullen held out hope on Sunday that a combination of diplomatic efforts and sanctions would force Tehran to suspend a uranium enrichment program that many believe is a secret bid to develop nuclear arms.

At the same time, though, he said “the military options have been on the table, and remain on the table.”

“I hope we don’t get to that, but it’s an important option and it’s one that’s well understood,” he added.

Asked if the military has a plan to strike Iran, Mullen replied, “We do.”

“In case of an attack against Iran, their destiny will be worse than their pitiable destiny in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters.

Mottaki hoped that better sense would prevail in Washington, saying “they said they would go to some places and they went.”

“But we have seen what happened to them. We think there are still rational people in America… who will not put the American dignity on sale.”

Earlier on Tuesday, foreign ministry’s spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast also dismissed Mullen’s remarks.

“We witness such inappropriate remarks by these American military officials,” he told reporters at his weekly news conference in Tehran.