Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has brushed aside the U.S. and Israeli military threats against the Islamic Republic, saying “their options can remain on the table until they rot.”

“The hegemonic powers frequently spout rude and bullying diatribes against the Iranian nation, Ahmadinejad said in an address to a gathering in the city of Karaj, 35 km west of Tehran, on Sunday, March 11, Press TV reported.

“They say all of the options are on the table. Let your (West’s) options remain on the table until they (anti-Iran options) and yourselves rot together,” he added.

The U.S., Israel and some of their allies accuse Iran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear energy program, the allegation Tehran fiercely denies.

The Iranian President said “the current rhetoric of the hegemonic powers resembles that of the colonialist era, stressing that the neocolonialist era will also come to an end.”

Ahmadinejad further stressed the Iranian nation “will withstand the economic pressures and will not be intimidated by the Western talk of bombs, warships and warplanes.”