Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has issued a stark warning to Israel, vowing to completely destroy the country if it proceeds with even the “tiniest invasion” of Iran. The president’s comments come as tensions between the two nations reach a boiling point following Iran’s brazen missile and drone attack on Israel over the weekend.
Speaking at an annual army parade on Wednesday, Raisi warned Israel of a “massive and harsh” response, as Iran prepares for potential Israeli retaliation. The parade, usually held on a highway in Tehran’s southern outskirts, was relocated to a barracks north of the capital without explanation, and state TV did not broadcast it live, breaking from previous years’ tradition.
The recent escalation began with an apparent strike on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria on April 1, which killed 12 people, including two Iranian generals. Iran blames Israel for the attack, although Israel has not claimed responsibility. In response, Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel on Saturday, which Israel successfully intercepted with the help of its allies, boasting a 99% success rate using its Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems.
Raisi described Saturday’s attack as a limited one, warning that if Iran were provoked to carry out a larger attack, “nothing would remain from the Zionist regime,” according to the official IRNA news agency.
Israel has vowed to respond to the attack but has not provided details on how or when. The country’s military council met on Tuesday to decide on future action, while its allies have urged all sides to avoid further escalation.
The recent events mark a new chapter in the decades-long shadow war between Israel and Iran, which has intensified over the past few months. Iran has supported Hamas, the group responsible for the deadliest terror attack in Israel’s history on October 7, and Saturday’s attack was the first direct Iranian military attack on Israel.
As tensions continue to rise, the international community watches closely, hoping to prevent the conflict from spiraling out of control and engulfing the region in a larger war.
