Any attacks from Israel will be met with an “unconventional response,” Tehran has said
Iran has informed the US that it will no longer show restraint towards Israel, according to an Iranian source speaking to Al Jazeera. This message was delivered to Washington through Qatar.
The message comes as Israel has threatened to respond harshly to a missile attack on Tuesday. Tehran claims the attack was retaliation for the deaths of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders at Israel’s hands.
Iran told the US that its policy of self-restraint has ended because it failed to protect Iranian national security interests, the anonymous source told Al Jazeera on Thursday.
Tehran does not desire a regional war, but any Israeli attack will be met with an “unconventional response,” which includes targeting Israeli infrastructure, according to Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, the Iranian mission to the UN has issued a warning to other countries that any assistance provided to Israel in an attack on Iran will be considered an act of aggression.
”Our response will be solely directed at the aggressor. Should any country render assistance to the aggressor, it should likewise be deemed an accomplice and a legitimate target,” the mission said. “We advise countries to refrain from entangling themselves in the conflict between the Israeli regime and Iran and to distance themselves from the fray.”
At least 180 missiles of various kinds were fired at Israel on Tuesday evening. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have intercepted most of them, but video evidence showed multiple impacts all over Israel, including property damage to several military facilities.
Amir Saied Iravani, Tehran’s envoy to the UN, told the Security Council on Wednesday that the strike was self-defense in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter and that Iran was “fully prepared to take further defensive measures if necessary.”
On Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Israel of wanting to “cause insecurity and spread crisis in the region,” which Tehran opposes. However, he said, “any type of military attack, terrorist act or crossing our red lines will be met with a decisive response by our armed forces.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “exact a heavy price from the ayatollahs’ regime,” the Tel Aviv-based Channel 12 reported on Tuesday. The “harsh response” is being closely coordinated with the US and is expected to come “within days,” the outlet said.
US President Joe Biden told reporters that he was discussing with Israel the possibility of strikes on Iranian oil sites.