President Raisi promises that the “slightest attack” will be addressed with a “strong and fierce response” while the globe pleads for calm.
Iran’s president has reaffirmed that the “tiniest attack” by Israel would result in a “massive and harsh” reaction, raising concerns about the ongoing threat of full-scale war in the Middle East.
Speaking during Iran’s annual army parade on Wednesday, President Ebrahim Raisi issued the warning. The globe is ready for any reprisals following Iran’s attack on Israel over the weekend.
Despite persistent appeals from all sides for Israel to stay back, the country has vowed to respond. The UK’s foreign minister hinted on Wednesday during his visit to Israel that Israel has made the decision to “act.”
Raisi praised Iran’s blatant attack on Israel, which she called a “True Promise,” while also restating recent threats of a “strong and fierce response” during her speech at the ceremony.
Low-level hostilities between Iran and its allies in Lebanon and Yemen and Israel have existed since October, when the Palestinian organization Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, an operation that ignited the Gaza War.
But Iran launched its first-ever direct attack against Israel on April 1 in response to what seemed to be an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria.
“True Promise’s collapse of the Zionist regime’s false hegemony after Operation Al-Aqsa Flood was witnessed by the people of the world,” claimed Raisi.
He described the attack as “limited” and asserted that “nothing would remain from the Zionist regime” if Iran had wanted to launch a larger assault.
Iranian officials have said that they will respond quickly to any retaliation by Israel.
The president stated in a statement posted on his official website, “That is the time when the supporters of the Zionist regime will find out that their hidden power will not be able to do anything.”
‘Decision to act’
Raisi also took aim at the allies of Israel. He declared, “Those nations who attempted to normalize relations with this heinous and criminal regime are ashamed before their nations today.”
While Israel is waiting to respond to Iran’s attack, fears that Israel’s war on Gaza could escalate into a full-scale conflict have reached a peak.
Japan and Australia, two of Israel’s allies in the US and Europe, have urged moderation, while China and Russia have urged Iran to exercise caution. But representatives of Israel have promised that there will be a reaction.
“Solidarity with Israel is a right. While in Tel Aviv, UK Foreign Minister David Cameron told reporters, “It’s right to have made our views clear about what should happen next but it’s clear the Israelis are making a decision to act.”
“We hope they act in a way that is both smart and tough, and that does as little to escalate this as possible,” he continued.
Red Sea preparations
Iran’s naval commander announced on Wednesday that warships will be stationed in the Red Sea to protect Iranian commercial shipping as part of Tehran’s readiness for an Israeli counterattack.
According to the semiofficial Tasnim news agency, Naval Commander Shahram Irani stated, “The Navy is carrying out a mission to escort Iranian commercial ships to the Red Sea and our Jamaran frigate is present in the Gulf of Aden in this view.”
He said Tehran is prepared to escort foreign vessels.
Israel-bound shipping has experienced severe disruptions in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi group attacks in Yemen.
Since November, the group backed by Iran has been attacking ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, claiming that their actions are a show of support for the Palestinian people and a protest against Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.
