NEW YORK: Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has said that Tehran will respond to the “maximum” if Israel acts against his nation’s interests. In an interview with the American news channel NBC News, he said that they are not going to have any new reactions as long as there is no new adventurism by Israel against their interests.
He said that if Israel takes a decisive action against Iran and this is proven to them, their reply will be immediate and to the maximum. The FM was speaking after reports of an Israeli attack on Iran on Friday. Amirabdollahian said the incident was “not an attack”.
Earlier, Israel launched a missile strike against a site in Iran, US broadcaster ABC News claimed on Friday. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported blasts in Isfahan. On the other hand, Iranian officials said they shot down several drones and that there had been “no missile strike for now” on Iran, after blasts were heard near Isfahan.
Iran’s space agency spokesperson Hossein Dalirian said in a statement via social media that several drones “have been shot down by the nation’s air defence, there are no reports of a missile strike for now,”
Following Iran’s barrages of drones, Israeli authorities did not say when or where they would attack, but Benjamin Netanyahu said they reserve the right to protect itself.
Israel has warned it would hit back following Iran fired hundreds of drones and missiles at its arch rival over the weekend. That attack came in the wake of an assault on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, Syria.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called for restraint to avoid further escalation in the region, after reports that Israel has carried out an attack on Iran. In a statement, Ursula von der Leyen that they have to do everything possible so that all parties restrain from the escalation in the region. The EU chief told media persons in Finland that It was absolutely essential that the region stays stable and that all parties refrain from further action.
China also said that it opposed any actions that “further escalate tensions”, in the region. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that Beijing has noted the relevant reports and opposes any actions that further escalate tensions in the region.
On the other hand, Oman condemned an “Israeli attack” on Iran on Friday after Iranian media reported about explosions heard near the city of Isfahan. The foreign ministry of Oman said in a statement via social media that it condemned the reported Israeli attack on Isfahan, along with denouncing Israel’s recurrent military actions in the region.
