Iran vows 'widespread and comprehensive' destruction if Israel responds; Netanyahu: Attack failed, Tehran will pay price

The Iranian General Staff threatened Israel with the destruction of its infrastructure on a large and comprehensive scale if it responded to the unprecedented missile attack carried out by the Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday evening, launching more than 200 ballistic missiles within half an hour, targeting many areas inside Israel.

For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that his country's move was over unless the Israeli regime decided to call for further response.

Araghchi pointed out that Israel's supporters now have a great responsibility to rein in the warmongers in Tel Aviv, noting that Iran exercised the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

The Iranian General Staff statement warned that if "countries supporting the Zionist entity" intervened, Tehran would target their interests and headquarters in the region with force, according to the statement.

Video from Iran

Moments of launching a batch of ballistic missiles towards the entity.

A new batch is making its way towards the entity pic.twitter.com/mSAucmUZnQ

— Hanzala (@Hanzpal2) October 1, 2024

In this context, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh confirmed that the Revolutionary Guards operation was legitimate and in accordance with international laws. He pointed out that his country did not use its most advanced missile capabilities and those with the greatest destructive power in Operation True Promise.

He stressed that if the region is exposed to escalation and war, Tehran will deal with it more severely in the coming waves.

In the same context, the Iranian Foreign Ministry warned against the entry of what it described as a third party into the conflict, and held Israel's supporters responsible for stopping its adventures, according to the statement.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also confirmed that the attack on Israel comes within the framework of legitimate defense according to the United Nations Charter, noting that the attack on Israel was limited to military and security targets and facilities.

Hours ago, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that it had struck what it described as important security and military targets in the heart of the occupied territories with dozens of missiles. The Revolutionary Guard said that 90% of the missiles it fired at Israel hit their targets accurately.

The Revolutionary Guards explained in a statement that the operation was carried out based on a decision by the Supreme National Security Council and with the support of the army. It added that it comes after a period of commitment to self-restraint following the assassination of the head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, and the Secretary-General of the Lebanese Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah. It also comes based on Iran's legal right to self-defense, according to the statement.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards indicated that this is the first wave of attacks on the occupied territories, and that any Israeli military response to this operation will be met with stronger and more destructive attacks.

Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported that the Revolutionary Guards had used hypersonic "Fateh" missiles for the first time, adding that it had targeted three Israeli military bases: the "Nevatim" air base, the "Hatzerim" air base, and the "Tel Nof" air base in the occupied territories, as well as the radars in the defense systems that guide the "Arrow-2" and "Arrow-3" missiles.

Netanyahu threatens Tehran

In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Iranian missile attack on Israel had failed, threatening that Tehran had made a big mistake and would pay the price for it.

Channel 13 reported that Netanyahu was with a number of ministers in a fortified underground location in Jerusalem during the Iranian attack.

For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said that Iran had not learned its lesson, adding, "Whoever attacks us will pay a heavy price."

More over Jerusalem... https://t.co/vlz4QhD2DL pic.twitter.com/KSZPq95VLv