In a letter obtained by Newsweek, a senior Iranian diplomat has warned of a harsher attack against Israel should the country respond to missiles strikes launched by the Islamic Republic amid a worsening series of escalations in the Middle East.
The letter, written by Iranian Permanent Representative to the U.N. Amir Saeid Iravani and addressed to U.N. Security Council President Pascale Christine Baeriswyl and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, sought to justify the launching of what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimated to be 180 ballistic missiles as an act of “self-defense” in response to “aggressive actions of the Zionist regime.”
These include the unclaimed assassination of Hamas Political Bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in late July, the wounding of Iran’s envoy to Lebanon in a series of blasts that affected communication devices primarily used by the Lebanese Hezbollah movement last month, and the killings of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) General Abbas Nilforushan in Israeli airstrikes in southern Beirut on Friday.
Iravani argued that Iran’s actions following “an extended period of restraint” contrasted with those of Israel, which he accused of “illegal actions” in the form of its ongoing attacks in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria as the war that began in October 2023 between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement neared the one-year mark and continued to spark new region-wide confrontations.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly warns against any acts of aggression by the Israeli terrorist regime against its national security and vital interests,” Iravani wrote. “Iran is fully prepared to take further defensive measures, if necessary, to protect its legitimate interests and defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty against any acts of military aggression and the illegal use of force.”
“Should the Israeli regime repeat such an internationally wrongful act again, Iran’s response will be swift, decisive, and stronger than before,” he added. “In this regard, Iran will have no hesitation.”
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Iravani also appealed to the U.N. Security Council “to urgently and decisively intervene to halt Israel’s continued aggression and war crimes against Lebanon, Gaza and Syria and to prevent the situation from escalating into a full-scale regional war.”
The IDF has yet to reported any casualties from the strikes. In a statement shared with Newsweek, an Israeli security official said that, in cooperation with U.S. Air Forces Central, the Israeli Air Force “operated in an effective and precise manner, intercepting most of the missiles—several hits were identified, and the damage is being assessed.”
IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters that “the Air Force continues to operate fully, and tonight it will continue to strike in the Middle East powerfully, as has been happening throughout the past year.”
“Iran committed a serious act tonight, pushing the Middle East towards escalation,” he added. “We will act at the time and place we decide, in accordance with the instructions of the political echelon. There will be consequences to these events. We are doing and will do what is necessary to protect the residents of Israel.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also warned that Tehran had “made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it,” during a meeting with government officials.
The White House and Pentagon had warned of “severe consequences” should Iran carry a missile strike against Israel amid indications earlier Tuesday that Tehran was “imminently” preparing to conduct such a launch. Following the strikes, President Joe Biden touted the performance of U.S.-Israel military cooperation and said his administration was in active talks with Israeli counterparts regarding a potential response.
In a statement shared with Newsweek, the Iranian Mission to the United Nations stated that “no notice was given to the United States prior to our response; however, a serious warning was issued afterwards.”
This is a developing story and further information will be added as it becomes available.
