From BBC News:
Clearly, there is no prospect of an imminent American attack on Iran at present. But with all these issues brewing, an eventual confrontation is something that obviously cannot be totally ruled out. Iranian officials say the leadership’s policy is to avoid offering anything that might be regarded as a provocation. At the same time, there is a conviction here that if the Americans want to attack Iran they will do it anyway. So there is much emphasis here on preparing for any such eventuality, with military and political leaders making almost daily declarations of military preparedness. “If Bush is re-elected, the Americans will certainly put pressure on us, economically and politically, perhaps even striking at military targets,” said one senior Iranian official. [“Analysis: Iran-US rift widens”, BBC News, May 25, 2003]