Tel Aviv threatens and Washington warns… Iran: We will respond within seconds to any Israeli attack

Tehran – through a number of its officials – warned Israel of a rapid, broad and stronger response if it launched an attack on it, and while Israel is studying plans for an attack on Iran , Washington warned of the repercussions that would have on the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that Tehran warned Washington that “if the Israeli entity undertakes any adventure, our response will be faster, stronger and broader.”

Abdullahian stressed that Iran does not want to escalate tensions in the region, adding, “The White House warned us clearly that Tehran’s response and the next action will be decisive, swift, and comprehensive if the Zionist regime attempts to repeat terrorist attacks on Iran’s interests and security.”

For his part, Ali Bagheri Kani, Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister and chief negotiator in the nuclear file, said that his country will respond within seconds to any possible Israeli attack.

In statements to Iranian state television, Kani described Israel’s targeting of the consular section of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus, as a strategic mistake.

Kenny pointed out that Iran’s response to Israel demonstrated its military and defensive capabilities within the framework of self-defense.

He added, “The Zionist regime must know that if it commits another mistake, the response will not be delayed by 12 days, not days or hours, but rather within seconds.”

The Iranian official stated that his country is prepared for any eventuality, saying, “The Zionists must not make the second mistake because Iran’s reaction will be harsher, stronger, and faster.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that his country’s attack on a number of Israeli military headquarters was carried out within the framework of the right to self-defence.

He added that his country’s response to the Damascus attack was logical, and that Iran does not seek to escalate tension in the region, as he put it.

In this context, an Iranian official told Al Jazeera that Iran does not want war, but is ready for it if it is imposed on it, and that its options are wide.

The Iranian official explained to Al Jazeera that “the Israeli entity must know that crazy and bullying behaviour does not work with a country like Iran.” He continued, “Iran has the full will to respond militarily to the Israeli entity again, but in a stronger way.”

He stressed that “Iran is ready for the second level of response through weapons that have not been used previously in the conflict with the Israeli entity.”

Israeli eagerness to respond

On the other hand, Israeli media confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  supports launching an attack in response to the Iranian attack that targeted Israel.

The Israeli War Council concluded a meeting – yesterday, Monday – that extended for 3 hours, and no official statement was issued after the meeting, but CNN quoted an Israeli official as saying that the Council reviewed military plans for a possible response to Iran.

In turn, the newspaper “Haaretz” reported that one of the sources familiar with the Council’s discussions confirmed the presence of intense international pressure on Israel that greatly affects decision-making regarding the possible response.

The source stated that Netanyahu tends to support attacks on Iran, and the security establishment is pressing to carry out these attacks.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted sources as saying that the Prime Minister refused to receive calls from foreign leaders after the Iranian attack for fear that he would be exposed to pressure that would prevent him from responding to the attack.

For its part, Israeli Channel 12 stated that the Israeli response “will be in a way that Washington accepts and will not likely lead to the region being drawn into war,” and explained that “the Israeli political and security leadership has decided to respond clearly and decisively to the Iranian attack.”

American reservation

In contrast to the Israeli enthusiasm for launching an attack on Iran, the US Department of Defense confirmed that Washington is not seeking escalation, but is taking the necessary measures to protect Israel, and added, “Israel will decide whether to respond to the Iranian attack, but we are not seeking escalation.”

For his part, an American official told Al Jazeera that Washington is continuing its efforts to prevent further escalation, but stressed that the decision is up to Israel.

The official indicated that Israel may resort to striking targets deep inside Iran, and stressed that the potential attack “does not aim to escalate, but rather to make Iran understand Israel’s ability to reach anywhere.”

On Saturday evening, Iran launched about 350 missiles and drones towards Israel, of which Tel Aviv claimed to have intercepted 99%, while Tehran said that half of the missiles successfully hit Israeli targets.

This is the first attack launched by Iran directly from its territory on Israel, and not through groups loyal to it, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, and it came in response to an attack targeting the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus at the beginning of this April.

Tehran accuses Tel Aviv of launching the Damascus missile attack, which resulted in the killing of 7 members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard , including prominent General Mohammad Reza Zahedi , while Tel Aviv did not officially acknowledge or deny its responsibility for the attack.