Iran is not likely to attack the United States abroad or domestically if it is not provoked, according to a top military intelligence official.

Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, told senators on Thursday that Iran is prepared to retaliate against the United States and its allies in the Middle East if it is attacked, but is unlikely to do so if not provoked.

“Iran can close the Straights of Hormuz at least temporarily and may launch missiles against United States forces and our allies in the region if it is attacked,” said Burgess in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“Iran could also attempt to employ terrorist surrogates worldwide — however, the agency assesses Iran is unlikely to initiate or intentionally provoke a conflict.”

Burgess and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told lawmakers that Israel had not made a decision to attack Iran at this time.

Clapper stressed that intelligence reports indicate that, though very close to being fully nuclear-capable, Iran had not yet decided to manufacturer a nuclear warhead. Iran’s supreme leader would likely make that judgment call and could possibly spur an arms race in the Middle East with Iran’s neighboring countries, he said.

Testifying before a separate Senate committee last month, Clapper warned that a 2011 plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States — which U.S. officials say was hatched in Iran — indicates that Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his government are willing to launch attacks in the United States.

Officials are investigating bomb attacks in India and Thailand, as well as another failed attempt in Georgia. Israel has blamed Hezbollah and Iran, which has been labeled by the United States as a key financial backer of the group.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told “60 Minutes” in a recent interview that “there are no options that are off the table” when it comes to stopping Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons, including taking military steps.

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