Iran has asserted that it is “fully prepared to defend its sovereignty” in response to concerns over a potential “precise and surprising” retaliatory strike from Israel, its longstanding adversary.
Israel’s reaction will be characterized as lethal, accurate, and unexpected.
Tehran’s announcement follows the launch of approximately 200 missiles into Israel on October 1, which was executed in retaliation for the deaths of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and an Iranian general.
Additionally, Iran’s assertion of being “fully prepared” for a counterattack comes in the wake of Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant’s declaration earlier this week that Israel’s response would be “deadly, precise, and surprising.”
‘Stands fully prepared to defend’
In his speech to the UN Security Council on Thursday, Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, asserted that the Islamic Republic is “completely ready to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity from any aggression aimed at its essential interests and security.”
Iran not seeking ’escalation’
Iravani additionally stated that Iran is not pursuing “war or escalation,” but will fully exercise its “inherent right to self-defense in accordance with international law and will inform the Security Council of its legitimate response.”
Iran ’not afraid’ of war with Israel
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic on Thursday that while “we do not desire a war,” the nation is “not fearful of it and will be prepared for any eventuality.” These remarks are made in the context of an ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist organization allied with Iran, which has been ongoing since October 7 of the previous year and has recently escalated to involve Lebanon.
Iran’s representative to the United Nations, Iravani, emphasized that “Lebanon is on the verge of a humanitarian disaster, and the international community must intervene to prevent this crisis from escalating further.”
