Katz Warns Iran of 'Powerful Response' in Jewish New Year Video Message

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a video statement on Thursday ahead of the Jewish New Year, extending holiday greetings to Jewish communities in Iran while warning Tehran that any attack on Israel would draw a forceful reply.

In the message, recorded in Tel Aviv, Katz said he wished the people of Iran "next year in a Tehran liberated from oppression and tyranny." He cautioned that economic pressure on Iran could push its leadership toward action against Israel, and reiterated that any strike, for any reason and in any location, would be answered with a powerful response.

He said such a response would inflict severe damage on Iran, including on its central energy facilities, which he described as providing resources and capabilities for what he called the Iranian war and terror system and for harm caused to Israeli citizens.

Katz added that the military, on his instructions and those of the prime minister, is alert and ready to carry out its mission. He said a blow of that kind would set Iran back decades and further destabilise the clerical regime, which he said the Iranian people deeply oppose and wish to see fall.