Iran’s action against Israel concluded unless Israel invites further retaliation: Foreign Minister
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People taking shelter during an air raid siren after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles, in central Israel, on Oct 1.
PHOTO: REUTERS
DUBAI/JERUSALEM/BEIRUT - Iran said early on Oct 2 that its missile attack on Israel was finished, barring further provocation, while Israel and the US promised to retaliate against Tehran’s escalation as fears of a wider war intensified.
Washington said it would work with long-time ally Israel to make sure Iran faced “severe consequences” for the Oct 1 attack.
The United Nations Security Council scheduled a meeting on the Middle East for Oct 2, and the European Union called for an immediate ceasefire.
“Our action is concluded unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on social media platform X early on Oct 2.
Tehran launched a salvo of missiles on Oct 1 against Israel
The Iranian Foreign Minister said Iran’s action against Israel came after exercising tremendous restraint to give space for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry earlier called on the UN Security Council to take “meaningful action” to prevent threats against regional peace and security.
“Our defensive operation is in line with international law and the right to self-defence... we only targeted military and security facilities,” the ministry said in its statement regarding the missile attack on Israel.
In an earlier post on X, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran’s action was “in defence of Iranian interests and citizens”, adding that his country was not looking for war but would “firmly stand against any threat”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised that arch-foe Iran would pay for the missile attack, while Tehran said any retaliation would be met with “vast destruction”, raising fears of a wider war.
As Washington expressed full backing for its long-time ally Israel, Iran’s armed forces said direct intervention by Israel’s supporters against Tehran would provoke a “strong attack” from Iran on their “bases and interests” in the region.
Oil prices shot up 5 per cent on fears of a wider war between the two arch-enemies.
“Iran made a big mistake tonight – and it will pay for it,” Mr Netanyahu said at the outset of a political-security meeting, according to a statement.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said the assault was in retaliation for Israel’s killings of militant leaders and aggression in Lebanon against the Iran-backed armed movement Hezbollah and in Gaza.
Fears that Iran and the US would be drawn into a regional war have risen with Israel’s intensifying assault on Lebanon in the past two weeks, including the start of a ground operation there on Sept 30, and its year-old conflict in the Gaza Strip. REUTERS
