Iran warned US forces in Iraq on Wednesday that it would respond to any violation of Iranian airspace, a message analysts said seemed directed at the new US president-elect more than neighbouring American troops.

The Iranian army statement, reported by state radio, followed a raid last month by US forces into Syria, a move that was condemned by Damascus and Tehran.

But an Iranian politician said the timing suggested it was directed at Barack Obama, who won Tuesday's US vote, more than the US military, and might reflect concern by hardliners in Iran who he said thrived on confrontation with Washington.

Obama has said he would toughen sanctions on Iran but has also held out the possibility of direct talks to resolve rows, which include a dispute over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

"Recently it has been seen that American army helicopters were flying a small distance from Iraq's border with Iran and, because of the closeness to the border, the danger of them violating Iran's border is possible," state radio reported.

"Iran's armed forces will respond to any violation," radio said, citing a statement from Iran's army headquarters.

Washington, which has not had diplomatic ties with Tehran since 1980, has accused Iran of funding, equipping and training militants in Iraq. Iran denies this and says instability is the due to the presence of U.S. troops who should quit Iraq.

"This is a clear message to the American president-elect because radicals are not very happy that Obama has been elected," said one Iranian politician, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the subject.

He said Iran could have chosen to pass such a message through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which handles US interests in the absence of a US mission. The politician said that route had been used in the past.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman declined to comment on Tuesday's election result when asked earlier on Wednesday. The two countries are at loggerheads over Iran's disputed nuclear work. Washington says Tehran is seeking an atomic bomb.

Tehran says it wants the technology to make electricity and so it can save more of its vast oil and gas resources for export.

Obama, like Bush, has not ruled out military action although he has criticised the outgoing administration for not pushing for more diplomacy and engagement with Iran.

Iran has warned it would respond to any attack on its territory by targeting US interests and America's ally Israel, as well as closing the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway at the mouth of the Gulf and vital route for world oil supplies.

Syria says eight civilians were killed in a cross-border raid on Oct 26, which occurred close to Syria's border with Iraq and which Damascus has condemned as "terrorist aggression" by the United States.

Washington has yet to confirm officially the raid but officials have said on condition of anonymity that the operation was believed to have killed a major Al Qaeda militant responsible for smuggling foreign fighters into Iraq. - Reuters