Iran vows harsh response to IDF attacks but downplays Isfahan strike

• Published date: 20 April 2024
• Author: TOVAH LAZAROFF
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

"If Israel wants to do another [act of] adventurism and acts against the interests of Iran, our next response will be immediate and will be at the maximum level," he told NBC

Amirabdollahian spoke hours after Israel struck Iranian air force assets in Isfahan, in central Iran, early Friday morning in retaliation for the Islamic Republic's unprecedented attack on April 14 of more than 300 drones and missiles.

Israel had said that such attacks could not be normalized and that it would have to respond but did not go so far as to publicly acknowledge the Isfahan strike.

"If Israel takes a decisive action against my country and this is proven to us," the foreign minister said, "our response will be immediate and to the maximum and will cause them to regret it."

Amirabdollahian, whose words were translated into English by NBC, downplayed the significance of the Isfahan strike.

On Sunday morning, Iran International published footage of the damage caused to the Isfahan base as a result of the strike.

US-Israeli strike stirs tensions

Israel has not formally acknowledged the strike, but US officials confirmed it to American media outlets.

Israeli official security and governmental sources told The Jerusalem Post on Friday that the IDF was behind the attack: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Israel retaliated where they were attacked."

That said, Israel will not officially accept responsibility for this attack for strategic reasons. Sources explain that the Iranians have downplayed it because they wish to avoid escalation.

Israeli sources told the Post that it's unclear why US sources disclosed to American media that Israel was involved; they could have remained silent. Such silence could have preserved Iran's dignity and avoided escalating the situation.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani clarified for reporters at a press conference in Capri that the US was informed at the last moment that the attack would take place.

Tajani stressed that Washington was not involved.

Italy, he said, has spoken with Iran about the importance of de-escalation.

The United States has not been involved in any offensive activity against Iran and is seeking to de-escalate tensions between the Islamic Republic and...