Iran vows decisive response to Israel's missile strikes
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced another retaliation against Israel. Tehran will "use all possible means" to respond to the shelling that occurred on Saturday.
According to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the response will be "definite and effective." Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghei articulated these words during a press conference.
Reuters noted that earlier statements from Iranian leaders had been more cautious. Iran's supreme spiritual-political leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that the Israeli attack should "not be exaggerated nor underestimated." Still, he refrained from announcing immediate retaliation, as reported by the BBC.
Meanwhile, President Masud Pezeszkian stated that Iran "will respond appropriately" while emphasizing that Tehran is not seeking war.
On Saturday, Israel responded to Iranian attacks, including shelling with approximately 200 ballistic missiles, by striking military targets in several regions of Iran.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, General Herzi Halevi, assessed on Sunday that the retaliatory strike on Iran used "only a portion of the capabilities. We can do much more," Halevi said during a meeting where senior officers evaluated the attack's results.
According to the "Times of Israel," Halevi stated that Israel "hit strategic arrays in Iran. This is of very high importance. And we’ll see how things evolve now. We’re ready for all scenarios on all fronts."
Israel indicated that it does not want further escalation and that the attack on Iranian military targets was a "clear message."