An Iranian military commander said “all objectives were achieved” in the overnight attack, adding that supporting Israeli retaliation would threaten U.S. military bases.
Iran has warned Israel of large-scale attacks on its territory if it retaliates against Tehran's nighttime drone and missile attacks, adding that the United States should not support Israeli military action.
“If the Zionist regime [Israel] Or if its supporters display reckless behavior, they will receive a decisive and stronger response,” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in a statement on Sunday.
Raisi's statement followed a similar warning from Iranian military commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, who told state television that he expected an “even bigger” response “if we retaliate against Iran.”
Bagheri said Iran's attack on Israel “has achieved all its objectives and, in our view, the operation has ended and we have no intention of continuing.”
Earlier on Sunday, he warned the United States that supporting Israeli retaliation would make Israeli bases targets for Iran.
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Hossein Salami also warned that Tehran would retaliate against Israeli attacks on its interests, officials and people.
“From now on, whenever Israel attacks Iranian interests, we will attack from Iran.”
Meanwhile, Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations justified Tehran's response to Israel's “aggression” as “legitimate defense” under the UN Charter.
“This issue can be considered resolved. However, if the Israeli regime makes a mistake again, Iran's response will be quite severe,” the statement said.
He added that the United States should “step back” from the conflict because it is an issue between Iran and Israel.
Al Jazeera's Dorsa Jabari, reporting from Tehran, said the Iranian attack would be seen by the public as a “historic event for this country.”
“Iran has been talking about going to war with Israel as one of its main adversaries for more than 40 years,” he said, adding that celebrations were held in several Iranian cities over the airstrike. .
“Significant reaction”
Tehran's attack late Saturday comes after a suspected Israeli airstrike on the country's embassy compound in Damascus killed a Revolutionary Guards member on April 1, raising the threat of a broader regional conflict. It was started.
On Sunday, Israel reported minor damage and reopened its airspace following an unprecedented direct attack.
The Israeli military announced that its military had shot down more than 99% of Iranian drones and missiles and that it was discussing next steps.
In a short statement on X, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote: we blocked. Together we win. ”
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant warned in a televised statement that the conflict with Iran was “not over yet.”
Israel's Channel 12 television quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying there would be a “serious reaction” to the attack.
Israeli military chief spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari also called Iran's actions “very serious” and said in a teleconference that Iran was “pushing the region toward escalation.”
Despite the rhetoric, one Iranian analyst said the statement from Iran provides an opening for the rival factions to retreat from a broader confrontation.
Farzan Sabet, a senior fellow at the Geneva-based Center for Global Governance, said that by taking a “mostly symbolic, non-lethal or slightly lethal response”, Israel “has the potential to withdraw”. There is,” he said.
However, given Israel's “historically low threat tolerance and practice of disproportionate responses,” we could see further retaliation and escalation, he said in an analysis published in X.
