Report: Iran Vows ‘Harsh Response’ to Israel Strikes, Plans Retaliation Post US Election By The Media Line Staff Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reportedly directed military officials to prepare a retaliation plan against Israel in response to recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military sites. According to a report in The New York Times on […]
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The Media Line: Report: Iran Vows ‘Harsh Response’ to Israel Strikes, Plans Retaliation Post US Election
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Report: Iran Vows ‘Harsh Response’ to Israel Strikes, Plans Retaliation Post US Election
By The Media Line Staff
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reportedly directed military officials to prepare a retaliation plan against Israel in response to recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military sites. According to a report in The New York Times on Thursday, Iranian leaders warned of a “harsh” and “unimaginable” reprisal, though the timing of any action may hinge on the upcoming US election.
Sources familiar with Tehran’s strategy indicated that the response would likely come after US voters cast ballots on November 5, as Iranian officials reportedly wish to avoid potential effects on the election outcome. However, other outlets, including Axios and CNN, cited sources suggesting the response could come sooner.
The escalation traces back to October 26, when Israel targeted anti-aircraft batteries and radar installations across Iran in retaliation for an Iranian ballistic missile strike on Israel earlier in the month. Tehran has acknowledged the loss of four soldiers but downplayed the damage, calling it minimal. Conversely, Israel maintains that the strikes effectively neutralized key Iranian defense and missile production facilities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday, stating that the airstrikes had exploited “Iran’s soft underbelly” and asserting that Israel now enjoys unprecedented “freedom of action” in Iran.
Responding to the attacks, senior Iranian officials highlighted the strength of their defenses and signaled their readiness for a counterattack. Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, a close aide to Khamenei, praised Iran’s defensive capabilities, describing Israel’s strike as a “desperate move.” Meanwhile, General Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned of an “unimaginable” response to what he termed as Israel’s “lawless actions.”