Both Israel and Iran are ready for war

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian threatened yesterday that his country would give an even stronger and more comprehensive response to any Israeli military attack, Anadolu Agency reports. In a phone call with his British counterpart David Cameron, Amir-Abdollahian stated that Iran is not seeking an escalation of tensions in the region.

“Iran will respond to any action against its interests,” said President Ebrahim Raisi yesterday, according to the Iranian Students News Agency, a day after Israel warned that it would respond to a Tehran drone and missile attack over the weekend.

QUESTION OF SECONDS

“Raisi categorically stated to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, that any action against Iranian interests, no matter how small, will definitely face a serious, widespread, and painful response from any perpetrator.”

The Chief of the Israeli General Staff, Herzi Halevi, emphasized that the Iranian attack on Israel – which was retaliation following the bombing of the Iranian embassy building in Damascus on April 1 – requires a response.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, stated on state TV that Tehran’s counteroffensive after any Israeli retaliation will be “a matter of seconds” because Iran will not wait another 12 days to respond.
Israelis await news on how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will respond to the first direct attack by Iran in history, while international pressure for restraint grows amid fears of escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Netanyahu convened his security cabinet for the second time in less than 24 hours on Monday to weigh a response to the Iranian attack over the weekend, a government source announced. Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi said Israel would respond but did not provide details.

ANXIOUS IRANIANS

The launching of such a large number of projectiles, cruise missiles, and drones into Israeli territory will be met with a response,” he said at the Nevatim airbase in southern Israel, which suffered some damage in the attack on Saturday night.

The possibility of Israeli retaliation has unsettled many Iranians who are already suffering economic repercussions and facing stricter social and political control since the protests of 2022-23.