Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held phone discussions with European colleagues, including German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, shortly after Iran’s missile attack on Israel, according to state media reports on Wednesday.
Araghchi confirmed that the missile attack has been completed, stating, “The missile attack on Israel has now been completed”.
However, he warned that if Israel retaliates, Iran’s response will be severe, saying, “But if the Zionist regime takes retaliatory action, our response will be even tougher”.
Araghchi emphasized that Iran does not seek escalation but is prepared for war. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for firing 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday evening.
The attack was reportedly in retaliation for the killings of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, and an Iranian general.
The Israeli army estimated that around 180 missiles were fired, targeting three Israeli air bases and the Mossad headquarters. Araghchi’s phone calls with European counterparts likely aimed to address concerns and mitigate potential fallout from the attack.
In related developments, Iran has been considering retaliatory actions against Israel, with factors such as ongoing ceasefire-hostage talks and US-Israeli deterrent posture influencing their decision.
The United States has maintained a strong military presence in the region, with the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group deployed to deter Iranian aggression. However, it remains unclear whether this deterrent will be sufficient to prevent future attacks.
