Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdullahian issued a stark warning to Israel, stating that the recent attack on the country was merely a cautionary message.
Speaking to NBC News correspondent Tom Llamas on the sidelines of the United Nations Security Council meeting in the US, Amir-Abdullahian stated that while Iran had the capability to strike Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv and Haifa, they refrained from targeting civilians, limiting their actions to military objectives.
“We could have targeted Haifa, Tel Aviv, and all of Israel’s economic ports,” Amir-Abdullahian stated, emphasising their military intent. However, he made it clear that Iran would only retaliate if Israel initiated a significant attack against their interests. He warned of an immediate and maximum response should such actions occur, promising that Israel would “regret it.”
Amir-Abdullahian also downplayed recent retaliatory attacks on Iran, describing the weapons used as akin to “children’s toys” rather than significant military strikes. While reports suggest Israel’s involvement in recent attacks on Iran, the Foreign Minister stopped short of confirming Israeli responsibility. This statement follows Iran’s missile and drone strikes on Israel in response to an April 1 attack in Damascus, Syria, which resulted in casualties among Iranian generals.
The exchange of warnings and retaliatory actions underscores the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, raising concerns about the potential for further conflict in the region.
