Iran’s top diplomat warned Thursday that his country would take “special measures" to defend its nuclear facilities if Israel continues to threaten them, raising the stakes further ahead of a new round of talks with the United States.

The United States would bear legal responsibility in the event of an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday, following a CNN report that Israel might be preparing strikes on Iran.

Iran warned it would take action against Israel and hold the US “legally responsible” if the Jewish state acts on reported plans to attack the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities.