Iran warns of ‘massive’response if Israel launches ‘tiniest invasion’
TEHRAN: Iran’s president has warned that the “tiniest invasion” by Israel would bring a “massive and harsh” response, as the region braces for potential Israeli retaliation ater Iran’s atack over the weekend.
President Ebrahim Raisi spoke Wednesday at an annual army parade that was moved to a barracks north of the capital, Tehran, from its usual venue on a highway in the city’s southern outskirts. Iranian authorities gave no explanation for its relocation, and state television didn’t broadcast it live, as it has in previous years.
Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel over the weekend in response to an apparent Israeli strike on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria on April 1 that killed 12 people, including two Iranian generals.
Israel, with help from the United States, the United Kingdom, neighbouring Jordan and other nations, successfully intercepted nearly all the missiles and drones.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the EU and its Western allies must expand sanctions on Iran’s missile and drone manufacturers ater Tehran’s atack on Israel.
“Our duty is to expand these sanctions,” Macron said ahead of a Brussels summit where EU leaders are set to endorse a push already launched by the bloc to step up its sanctions on Iran.
Tehran launched an unprecedented drone and missile onslaught over the weekend against Israel, which caused litle damage ater most of the projectiles were intercepted. Tehran’s first-ever direct assault on Israeli soil came in response to a deadly atack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus widely blamed on Israel.
EU foreign ministers agreed Tuesday for the bloc to start work on toughening sanctions that it already has in place against Iran over deliveries of drones to Russia for its use in the war on Ukraine.
A drat statement from Wednesday’s EU summit said leaders were “ready to take further restrictive measures against Iran, notably in relation to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS) and missiles.”