OFFICIALS in Iran have warned that any attack on Syria would be seen as an attack on itself.

The statement is one of the most assertive defences yet of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is fighting a two-year-long revolt.

Tehran has already repeatedly warned the West against intervening in the conflict against Assad.

"An attack on Syria would be considered an attack on Iran," said an aide to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In September, an Iranian military official said Iran would take action if the United States attacked Syria.

■iran