Tehran (Web Desk/Agencies): As tensions escalate in West Asia, reports suggest that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ordered preparations for a possible strike against Israel.
Leading US publication The New York Times cites three Iranian officials who state that this directive followed Khamenei's review of the damage from recent Israeli strikes on Iranian military sites.
The Israeli military previously announced that these “precise attacks” were retaliatory measures following Iran's missile strike on October 1.
In a recent meeting, Khamenei asserted that ignoring the Israeli aggression would be equivalent to "admitting defeat."
In response to the escalating situation, the United States and other nations have urged both Iran and Israel to de-escalate hostilities. President Joe Biden indicated that the recent strikes should mark the end of the exchanges between the two nations.
Speculation suggests that any Iranian retaliation could occur after the US presidential elections on November 5.
Khamenei's senior aide, Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, warned of a "harsh and regretful" response to Israel’s actions, describing the Israeli assault as a desperate maneuver. He noted that Iran's air defenses effectively mitigated the strikes, which resulted in minimal damage.
Following the Israeli attack, Hossein Salami, commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that Israel would soon experience an unexpected response from Iran, asserting that the Israeli government had mistakenly believed it could alter the regional balance of power through missile attacks.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the situation during an IDF graduation ceremony, reaffirming Israel’s unwavering goal of preventing Iran from achieving nuclear capabilities. He emphasized that Israel currently enjoys unprecedented freedom to operate within Iranian territory.