Iran threatens to annihilate Israel if they launch a major attack

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi warned Israel on Tuesday (23rd April) that if Israel were to launch an attack on Iranian soil, it could drastically alter the situation and potentially lead to the complete destruction of the “Zionist regime,” according to the official IRNA news agency.

President Raisi embarked on a three-day trip to Pakistan on Monday, expressing a commitment to enhance trade between the neighboring countries to $10 billion annually. These two Muslim nations are working towards reconciling their relationship following a series of unprecedented retaliatory military actions earlier this year. President Raisi in his speech in Lahore said “The Islamic Republic of Iran will honourably continue to support the Palestinian resistance.”

On Friday, the 19th of April, the skies over Isfahan, Iran echoed with explosions, reportedly due to an Israeli attack as per certain sources. Tehran, however, downplayed the incident, asserting that it had no intentions of retaliating. 

Tensions have been soaring high between the two nations as, on  April 13, Iran had unleashed a barrage of missiles and drones towards Israel, citing retaliation for the suspected deadly strike on its embassy compound in Damascus on 1st April. However, the vast majority of these projectiles were intercepted and neutralised.

On Thursday, the 18th of April, Iran issued a stark warning, indicating that any Israeli retaliation against Iranian nuclear sites could lead to a change in Tehran’s nuclear policy. This veiled threat hinted at the potential commencement of nuclear weapons production in response to escalating tensions.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Brigadier General Ahmad Haghtalab, who leads the unit responsible for safeguarding nuclear sites, made the threat during an interview on Thursday, saying “The Zionist enemy’s nuclear facilities have been identified, and the Islamic Republic has accessed the necessary data on all targets. To respond to their possible action, we have fingers on the trigger to launch powerful missiles to destroy the identified targets.” He further said “If the fake Zionist regime intends to resort to the threat of attacking our nuclear facilities as a means to put pressure on Iran, reviewing the current doctrine and nuclear policies of the Islamic Republic and distancing from past considerations is possible and conceivable.”

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