Iran Warns of Escalation After Missile Strikes on Israel

Several officials of the Islamic Republic have threatened Israel against responding to Iran's missile strikes. 

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, on Tuesday vowed to retaliate against Iran after it fired 200 ballistic missiles.

Iran said on Wednesday morning that its missile attack on Israel was finished, barring further provocation.  

“Our action is concluded unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a post on X early on Wednesday.

The United Nations Security Council has scheduled a meeting about the Middle East for Wednesday, and the European Union has called for an immediate ceasefire.

Iran Details Targets of Missile Strikes

The chief of the general staff of the Islamic Republic's armed forces has warned Israel of a larger attack on its territory should it retaliate against Tehran’s missile attacks.

“The Islamic Republic, even in the face of the crimes committed by the Zionist regime, adhered to the necessary protocols, targeting only military bases and three main air bases of the Zionist regime,” Major General Mohammad Bagheri said on state TV. 

“This included Mossad, designated as the centre for assassination, Nevatim airbase, used for F-35 aircraft, and Hatzerim airbase, which was used for the assassination of dear martyr Nasrallah,” he said.

“Strategic radars and the gathering centres of tanks, armoured vehicles, and personnel of the regime in the region surrounding Gaza, which were responsible for the massacre of the people of Gaza, were also targeted,” he added. 

He warned that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the armed forces of the Islamic Republic “are fully prepared, both in terms of defence and offence, to repeat this attack multiple times bigger.”

“If the Zionist regime, driven to madness, is not controlled by the United States and Europe and continues its crimes or takes action against our territorial integrity and sovereignty, tonight’s operation will be repeated with even greater intensity, and all of their infrastructures will be struck.”

Revolutionary Guards Release Video of Strike Orders  

🎥 ویدیویی از واکنش های حسین سلامی و دیگر فرماندهان سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی به موشک پراکنی به اسراییل، تبدیل به سوژه طنز کاربران شبکه های اجتماعی شده است. برخی کاربران نوشته اند خود فرماندهان سپاه هم فکر نمی کردند موشک هایشان تا اسرائیل برسد.#اخبار_ایران pic.twitter.com/3GbjWY6QYg

— ایران وایر (@iranwire) October 2, 2024

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards released a video showing Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami ordering the strikes.  

“General Hajizadeh, my dear brother and commander of the air forces of the Sepah [IRGC],” he said over the phone while surrounded by his deputies.  

“With the permission of God, and in retaliation for the blood of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and for the violation of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s national sovereignty, as well as the recent atrocities committed by this criminal regime in martyring commanders and the great leader of Hezbollah, begin operation True Promise 2.”

He was later seen speaking with President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone, cautioning that they are “careful” and “ready to give harsher responses,” emphasising that the country’s air defence system is active.

Threat to "Level" Israeli Cities  

A commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned that the Islamic Republic would “level” Israeli cities if it faced a response.  

“We could have razed Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground, but we refrained from doing so out of humanitarian considerations,” Ahmad Vahidi said.  

“However, if the regime makes a mistake, we will level Tel Aviv and Haifa in just one night,” he warned.

Threat of Using More Powerful Missiles  

Iran has warned that it will use more powerful missiles if Israel responds to Tuesday’s attack.  

“If the crimes of the Zionist regime continue and they show further audacity, our next reactions will certainly be much more severe, and we will use a variety of the most advanced weapons at our disposal,” Defense Minister Aziz Nasizadeh told state TV.

“Today’s operation only showed a fraction of our missile capabilities, and much of our missile power, which has higher technology and causes more damage, has not yet been used,” Nasizadeh said.

He added: “This operation was carried out with wisdom, intelligence, and a highly complex design, using a variety of missile products suited to the set objectives and by the defense systems present in the Zionist regime.”

“It was a very successful operation against military targets, particularly those involved in the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.”