Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has responded cautiously to Israel’s recent strikes, advising against exaggerating or downplaying the attack, while stopping short of promising immediate retaliation. This measured tone was echoed by President Masoud Pezeshkian, who vowed that Iran would deliver an “appropriate response” to the attack that claimed the lives of at least four soldiers, emphasizing that Tehran does not seek war.
Israel’s strikes targeted military sites across Iran on Saturday, in response to Iran’s barrage of nearly 200 ballistic missiles on October 1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted that Israel had severely impaired Iran’s defense capabilities and missile production, stating, “Whoever hurts us, we hurt him”.
However, Iranian officials have downplayed the impact of the attack, claiming that most missiles were intercepted and those that weren’t caused minimal damage to air defence systems. Khamenei emphasized that Iran’s response should prioritize the nation’s interests, while Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to defending its rights without seeking war.
Notably, the US had urged Israel to spare oil and nuclear facilities, a request apparently heeded by Tel Aviv. The Iranian foreign minister revealed that Tehran had received warnings of an impending attack hours beforehand.
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