TEHRAN - A top Iranian military commander said Thursday that Iran prefers and prioritizes the path of diplomacy for resolving the nuclear issue, but is also ready for war if threatened, according to the official news agency IRNA.

"Our preference and priority regarding addressing the nuclear issue is the path of diplomacy and a fair manner, far from the atmosphere of threat. However, we are ready for any war on any scale," Chief Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Hossein Salami said at a commemoration ceremony in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

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Based on its own political will, Iran voluntarily does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, and has excluded such weapons from its defense doctrine, Salami said.

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The United States, which has "bitter experiences" of interferences in other countries, has proven itself to be untrustworthy and incapable of keeping its promises, Salami noted, adding that should the United States threaten Iran, Iran would be ready for a war.

"If you put a foot wrong, we will open the doors of hell to you," he said.

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Salami's remarks came after Iran and the United States held three rounds of indirect talks with mediation from Oman throughout April, and also after fresh US sanctions were imposed in late April on a number of individuals and entities in Iran and other countries.

The fourth round of Iran-US talks, which was originally scheduled for May 3 in Rome, was postponed due to what Oman described as "logistical reasons." The Iranian side has said that the definite date and venue of the fourth round have not been determined yet.