Tehran, Nov 2 (EFE).- Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued a stark warning on Saturday, vowing “a crushing response” to Israel and the United States for their perceived aggressions against the Islamic Republic and its allies in the “Axis of Resistance.”
“The enemies, both the Zionist regime (Israel) and the United States, will definitely receive a crushing response for what they are doing against Iran, the Iranian people, and the Axis of Resistance,” Khamenei stated during a meeting with students in Tehran, according to the IRNA news agency.
The meeting with thousands of students marked the eve of the 45th anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. embassy, in Tehran in 1979.
This stern warning follows Israeli military strikes last month, which targeted what it claimed were military installations in Iran in retaliation for “months of continuous attacks by the Iranian regime against the state of Israel.”
Four soldiers were killed in these attacks on military bases located in the provinces of Ilam, Khuzestan, and Tehran, though Iran downplayed the damage caused.
The Israeli missile strikes risked escalating into an all-out regional conflict amid rising violence in the Middle East, as Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, are already engaged in warfare with Israel.
The Israeli assault was a response to earlier Iranian attacks, during which the Islamic Republic launched a barrage of missiles and drones at Israel on October 1. Iran claimed this was retaliation for attacks in recent months that resulted in the deaths of Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iranian military leaders.
Israel’s assault was a response to earlier Iranian attacks when the Islamic republic fired a wave of missiles and drones at Israel on Oct. 1 in retaliation for attacks in recent months that killed leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Iranian military.
Khamenei said the Iranian people and their leaders “will not forget the enemy’s action.”
The New York Times reported on Friday that Khamenei had ordered Iran’s Supreme National Security Council to prepare an attack against Israel because the damage to Iranian infrastructure and the casualties were “too great to ignore” and that “not responding would be to accept defeat.”
Addressing the students, he vowed to “definitely do everything necessary to prepare the Iranian nation in terms of military, weapons, and political affairs.” “Alhamdulillah (By the grace of Allah), the officials are currently doing this.”
He asserted that the nation is “confronting global arrogance,” noting that the discussions extend beyond revenge, representing a logical movement. “Confrontation aligns with religion, morals, Sharia, and international laws. The people of Iran and the country’s officials will not hesitate in this regard. Be sure of this.”
He further stated that Iran’s “rational and wise movement…in accordance with human, Islamic, and international logic, in confronting arrogance must continue,” which would require “science, thinking, technology, and a clear roadmap.” EFE
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