President Ebrahim Raisi Threatens ‘Severe’ Response to Action Against Iran

Iranwire – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has threatened a “severe” and “widespread” response to any action against its interests as Israel plans retaliation for the April 13 strikes by Iran.

“We categorically declare that the smallest action against Iranian interests will certainly be met with a severe, widespread and painful response against any perpetrator,” President Raisi, told the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Tuesday.

Raisi’s comments come after Israel’s top general said that the country will respond to Iran’s drone and missile attack over the weekend.

Army Chief of Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi said Israel is still considering its steps, and the Iranian strikes on April 13 “will be met with a response.”

“This launch of so many missiles, cruise missiles and drones into Israeli territory will be met with a response,” Halevi announced.

On Monday, US officials acknowledged that the Israeli government was unlikely to follow President Joe Biden’s advice to consider the interception of the majority of Iranian missiles and drones as a victory. 

Israel’s foreign minister also urged countries to place sanctions on Iran’s missile program and proscribe its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization after Iran’s first-ever direct attack on Israel.

“Alongside the military response to the firing of missiles and drones, I am leading a diplomatic attack against Iran,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a social media post.

Katz said he sent letters to 32 countries and spoke with numerous counterparts, calling on them to “place sanctions on Iran’s missile project and declare the Revolutionary Guard a terror organisation, as a way to stop and weaken Iran.”

“We must stop Iran now, before it will be too late,” he said. 

On Monday, global leaders reiterated their plea for restraint and de-escalation while acknowledging the anticipation of an Israeli response. 

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell cautioned during an interview with the Spanish radio station Onda Cero that the Middle East teeters “on the edge of the cliff,” stressing “we have to step on the brakes and reverse gear.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, told his Chinese counterpart on Tuesday that Tehran was prepared to demonstrate restraint and had no intentions of exacerbating the situation further. 

On the other hand, an Iranian MP has also warned that Iran would use weapons “it has never used before” if Israel responds.