Washington- Senator Hillary Clinton warned Tuesday that she would order the US military to "totally obliterate" Iran if the Islamic state carried out a nuclear strike against Israel.

Speaking to ABC television as voters in Pennsylvania went to cast ballots in the tight race for the Democratic nomination, Clinton said that as president, she would send a clear signal to the Iranians about the consequences of an attack against Israel.

"Whatever stage of development (the Iranians) might be in their nuclear weapons program in the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them," Clinton said.

"That's a terrible thing to say, but those people who run Iran need to understand that," she added. "Because that, perhaps, will deter them from doing something that would be reckless, foolish and tragic."

Clinton hopes to score a big victory in Pennsylvania over rival Senator Barack Obama, who has a slight lead over the former first lady in the national delegate count.

Polls show Clinton ahead in the state, but she needs a sizeable margin of victory to dampen calls within the party for her to drop out of the race. (dpa)