Iran has developed a contingency plan to respond to any potential Israeli military action, according to reports from Iranian media on Sunday. This comes after last week’s missile barrage launched by Iran in retaliation for the killing of leaders allied with Tehran.
“The plan for a necessary response to any Zionist (Israeli) action is fully prepared,” reported Tasnim News Agency, citing an “informed source” within the armed forces.
On Tuesday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired around 200 missiles towards Israel in response to the deaths of Tehran-aligned leaders during Israeli strikes. The IRGC’s actions were seen as direct retaliation following the deaths of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan in Beirut.
“If Israel takes action, there is no doubt that Iran will retaliate,” Tasnim added, stressing that Iran has identified numerous Israeli targets. The report emphasized that Tuesday’s missile attack demonstrated Iran’s capability to “flatten any location it chooses.”
The escalating tensions follow the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, for which Israel was widely blamed. Meanwhile, Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad visited a key oil site in the Gulf on Sunday amid concerns of potential Israeli strikes on the country’s oil infrastructure.
On Saturday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of an “even stronger” Iranian response should Israel target Iranian sites, including its oil facilities. U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday advised Israel against striking Iran’s oil infrastructure, given Iran’s role as one of the world’s top oil producers.
