Iran’s Defense Minister has denied reports of Israeli fighter jets entering Iranian airspace during last weekend’s raids as it plays down the damage inflicted after the four-hour assault.
Israel’s air strikes revived the specter of war long gone - a ghastly déjà vu for Iranians who weathered the nigh decade-old struggle with Iraq and a grim induction into its sights and sounds for those too young to remember.
Distance posed no challenge for the Israeli military, which demonstrated its ability to enter Iran and act at will, all while showing restraint, a leading urban warfare expert told Iran International.
Israel's top military officer on Tuesday threatened a stronger retaliation should Iran launch further missile strikes, shortly after Iran's foreign minister hinted at a studied response to Israel's Saturday airstrikes.
After Israeli strikes across Iran at the weekend, opposition figures are calling for further action against Iran, saying they did not go far enough.
Hardline media in Tehran are criticizing outlets that publish articles and interviews advocating for Iran to avoid retaliating against Israel’s attack in order to end the cycle of retribution and prevent an all-out regional war.
Some Iranian hardliners have warned that US interests could be targeted by Islamic Republic forces if Israel continues its strikes on Iran, asserting that Iran should view "interests, resources, and military personnel" as legitimate targets.
The United States issued a warning to Iran at the United Nations Monday, saying that any further aggressive actions against Israel or US personnel in the region would result in severe consequences.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, often deflects responsibility on difficult decisions, issuing vague statements that allows him to avoid blame if and when things go wrong.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Monday that the nature of Iran's response will be proportional to that of Israel's Saturday attack.
Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes on Iran this weekend caused “significant damage,” despite US President Joe Biden urging restraint and vetoing numerous potential targets, a security expert said.
Iran’s state broadcaster (IRIB) sparked criticism by downplaying Israel’s overnight strikes on Iranian military targets Saturday while encouraging further escalation of the conflict.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli airstrikes over the weekend damaged Iran’s missile production and defense capabilities, affirming its success in achieving its goals.