Amid unprecedented tension in the Middle East, mutual threats escalate between Israel and Iran, particularly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that his country is considering response plans to the Iranian strike last Saturday, with several scenarios outlined.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi asserted today, Tuesday, that his country’s response would be severe to any action targeting its interests.
Ali Bagheri Kani, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, warned that “his country would respond within seconds to any new Israeli attack.”
He also considered that the Israelis “made a strategic mistake in bombing the Iranian consulate in Damascus at the beginning of this April, providing a legitimate cover for a real test of Iran’s military and defensive capabilities, which would not have been possible without their action,” he said.
Stronger Strike
He urged them in televised remarks to “not address their strategic mistake with a second one, because if they repeat it, they must expect to receive a stronger, harsher, and faster strike, and this time they will not be given 12 days; the measure will be by seconds,” as reported by TASS agency.
Moreover, he clarified that when his country decided to launch its strikes (referring to the attacks last Saturday), it had plans in place to face any subsequent responses. He added, “Thus, any encroachment on Iranian soil will expose them to a much greater and bigger response.”
These statements came after several Israeli political and military officials confirmed in the past hours and days that a response to those Iranian strikes with hundreds of missiles and drones is inevitable, and will be decisive and clear.
However, Tel Aviv informed Washington at the same time that the response could be limited so as not to necessitate an expansion of the already ignited tensions and war since last October 7th in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, the US administration urged the Israeli government to be patient, to restrain themselves, and not to respond or escalate, clarifying at the same time that it would not participate in any anticipated Israeli attack.
It should be noted that this unprecedented tension in the Middle East flared up since early April, following the Israeli strike that targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus, resulting in the death of a high-ranking commander in the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and his deputy, along with 5 other officers.
This prompted Iran to retaliate, launching several raids on various locations inside Israel last Saturday, although they did not result in significant material or human damage, while Tel Aviv vowed to respond to the response.
The recent escalation between Iran and Israel intensified following a series of events that began with Israel’s strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, 2024. This attack reportedly resulted in the deaths of two Iranian generals and several officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran characterized this strike as an attack on its soil and vowed retaliation.
In response to the Israeli strike, Iran launched attacks against Israel on April 13, 2024, using a barrage of missiles and drones. However, Israel’s missile defense systems were largely successful in intercepting these attacks, resulting in minimal damage.
