- Iran braces for potential Israeli nuclear strikes
- Khamenei urges the West to leave the region
- Iran defends missile strikes as a necessary response
Iran is preparing for potential Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, urged Western nations to exit the Middle East.
During a meeting with students and scientists on Wednesday, Khamenei made his first public appearance since ordering a high-risk missile strike on Israel, in retaliation for Israel’s recent strikes on Hezbollah leadership. Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group backed by Tehran, lost its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an assassination last Friday.
Khamenei acknowledged the mourning in Iran over Nasrallah’s death but stressed: “Mourning does not mean we sit idle and depressed.”
Iran’s missile response has united the country’s previously divided political factions. The leadership defended the strike as necessary, legal, and crucial for restoring Iran’s deterrence and sovereignty.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reached out to European diplomats, assuring that Iran is not seeking further escalation. He emphasized that unlike Israeli operations in Lebanon, Iran’s strike targeted only military sites, not civilian areas.
When asked whether Iran had directly warned the U.S. before the attacks, Araghchi denied such actions but confirmed an indirect message was sent via the Swiss embassy after the missiles were launched. Switzerland has long served as a diplomatic mediator for the U.S. in Tehran.
Araghchi’s diplomatic outreach aimed to communicate the limited scope of Iran’s military response and encourage the U.S. and Europe to urge Israel to exercise restraint.
Iran’s Defense Minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, echoed this sentiment, warning Europe to restrain Israel or face severe consequences. “Failure to do so will provoke a large-scale regional war,” he cautioned.
Later on Wednesday, Iran will defend its actions before the UN Security Council, citing compliance with the UN Charter.
Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri, head of Iran’s armed forces, revealed that the missile strikes targeted key Israeli airbases, including Nevatim, home to F-35 jets, and the Mossad headquarters. Footage of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leadership watching the strikes showed them celebrating as the missiles hit their targets.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqir Qalibaf warned of an “unexpected plan” should Israel retaliate, suggesting Iran is prepared for any counterattack and will respond on a significantly higher scale.
Despite the heightened tensions, observers noted Iran’s awareness of its vulnerabilities, particularly in its outdated Russian-supplied air defense systems. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly stated his goal to shift the balance of power in the Middle East, widely interpreted as an effort to weaken Iran’s nuclear program.
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The Iranian government, mindful of potential internal dissent, has been closely monitoring public reactions. To avoid unrest, the oil ministry announced no changes to petrol prices, a sensitive issue in a nation grappling with inflation and sanctions. The IRGC also urged citizens to report pro-Israel sentiment on social media, while all commercial air traffic over Iranian airspace was halted.
A major target for any potential Israeli attack is Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility, near Qom. An assault on this key uranium enrichment site could reignite the internal debate over whether Iran should pursue nuclear weapons rather than merely enriching uranium.
Javad Zarif, Iran’s strategic affairs minister, typically cautious about military engagement, strongly supported the missile strikes, denouncing the West’s role in the region.
He condemned Western nations for “aiding and abetting Israeli genocide in Gaza” and allowing Israeli aggression in countries like Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. Zarif asserted Iran’s right to defend itself against Israel’s persistent provocations and held Israel and its allies responsible for the escalation.
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