Interview with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iranian Foreign Minister
"The next response will be immediate and at the highest level"
The Iranian government has warned of a 'retaliatory response' to Israel's additional attacks.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's Foreign Minister, said in an interview with the U.S. NBC network on the 19th (local time), "If Israel seeks another adventurism and acts against Iran's interests, our next response will be immediate and at the highest level," adding, "We will make them regret it."
This statement came after Israel's retaliatory attacks targeting the Iranian mainland continued earlier that day. Around 4 a.m., Iran shot down a drone with an anti-air missile in central Isfahan.
Although Israel has not officially confirmed it, U.S. officials and internal sources have confirmed to foreign media that the attack was carried out by the Israeli military. It has been six days since Iran retaliated on the 13th against Israel's airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria on the 1st.
Minister Amir-Abdollahian downplayed Israel's attack. He said, "What happened last night was not even an attack," adding, "It was closer to a toy our children play with, and it wasn't even a drone." While there have been conflicting claims about the weapon systems used by Israel in the attack, such as drones or missiles, Iran has referred to drones.
He also emphasized, "Unless Israel engages in new adventurism against our interests, we will not make a new response."
Minister Amir-Abdollahian is currently in New York to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting. Although it was in the form of a media interview, this is the first time a senior official representing the Iranian government has publicly mentioned the response policy to Israel's attacks.
He described Iran's retaliatory airstrike against Israel on the 13th as a 'warning.' Amir-Abdollahian said, "We could have struck Haifa and Tel Aviv and targeted all of Israel's economic ports," but "our red line was civilians. We only had military objectives."
He went on to express hope that a broad agreement, including the release of hostages between Israel and Hamas, would soon be reached. Minister Amir-Abdollahian said, "I think now is a good time and a good opportunity."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
