Iran and Israel Trade Fresh Warnings of Heavier Strikes
Iran's parliament speaker warns of faster, heavier retaliation, as Israel's PM cautions Tehran against any attack.
Tehran and Jerusalem escalated their rhetorical confrontation on Sunday, with each side warning the other of severe consequences for any future aggression.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told an open session of the legislature that the country has moved past the stage of proportionate retaliation. He asserted that recent Iranian strikes against what he called aggressor bases were only the opening salvo. Qalibaf warned that any attack on Iran's interests or security would now draw a quicker, heavier, and more painful response, stating that the "rules of the game" have fundamentally changed.
His remarks came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued his own stark warning during a cabinet meeting ahead of the Jewish New Year. Netanyahu cautioned that if Iran were to attack Israel, it would face a blow it "cannot even imagine." He reiterated his government's stated determination to see the fall of Tehran's leadership.
The war of words follows a series of recent military exchanges. The United States conducted strikes on southern Iranian regions, prompting Iranian retaliatory attacks on U.S. regional bases. These were followed by naval confrontations on Saturday. The latest cycle of violence traces back to late February, when Israel and the U.S. launched joint attacks on Tehran and other cities, triggering waves of Iranian missile and drone strikes on Israeli and U.S. targets, alongside heightened Iranian pressure on the Strait of Hormuz.