Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would "suffer a lot ... if he commits the stupidity of attacking Iranian targets," Shamkhani told reporters, calling Israel a "glass fortress."

He added, however, that he "totally excludes" an Israeli attack against his country.

On December 21, Israel's Haaretz newspaper quoted Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz as saying that the Jewish state could, if necessary, attack Iran's nuclear sites.

Asked about a report on Iran's state radio earlier Saturday that Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been captured in Pakistan, Shamkhani said he "was not sure about the information".

Instead, the minister said he had conducted "fruitful" meetings here with Lebanese leaders and Hassan Nasrallah, chief of the Shiite Hezbollah movement, which is supported by Iran.

WAR.WIRE