Iran issued a strong warning to both Israel and the United States on Sunday, vowing retaliation for Israel’s recent attacks. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami declared that Iran and its allies are prepared for what he called a “sacred” defense, adding that the “resistance” has the upper hand in the region. Salami further claimed that Iran would prevail over its adversaries, referring to Israel and the U.S. as the “axis of evil.”
The statement comes amid ongoing tensions, as Iranian officials claim U.S.-imposed sanctions have failed to weaken Iran. Salami criticized the U.S. for its purported stance on human rights, calling it hypocritical given what he described as U.S.-initiated global chaos and conflicts.
The Iranian government has been clear in its messaging, stating that any threat to its nuclear facilities would be met with decisive action. Yesterday, Ali Mohammad Naeini, a spokesperson for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, stated that Iran’s response to Israel would be “inevitable, powerful, and beyond what the enemy could imagine.”
In response, Israeli officials have echoed calls for action. Former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Israel Beiteinu party, called for preemptive strikes on Iran, specifically targeting energy and nuclear infrastructure. He noted that Israel should not wait for an Iranian retaliation and should consider immediate actions against Iran’s assets. Echoing Lieberman, Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch emphasized that any aggressive move by Iran would further strengthen Israel’s defensive strategy.
Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that the U.S. has reinforced its military presence in the Middle East, sending additional B-52 bombers and missile defense systems to the region. The U.S. Central Command confirmed that these deployments include ballistic missile defense destroyers and strategic bombers to support allies in the event of escalated threats.
An American official also warned Tehran against further actions targeting Israel, stating that the U.S. would not be able to restrain Israel from taking retaliatory measures. According to Axios, Washington has cautioned Iran that any further attacks could trigger an Israeli response, even if the assault originates from Iraqi soil.
With high-stakes tensions in the Middle East, it remains to be seen how Iran, Israel, and the U.S. will navigate this complex geopolitical landscape.
