Iran’s defense minister vows ‘crushing response’ after Israeli threats

Iran’s Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani has reacted strongly to recent statements by Israeli leaders, and vowed a crushing response to any imprudent move.

In his remarks on Monday, the newly-appointed minister said Iran has repeatedly stressed that its defensive power and progress in new technologies and domestic innovations are meant to ensure national security and respond to any external aggression.

“The enemies of the Iranian nation will definitely receive a crushing response for any imprudent and reckless action and will incur heavy costs,” Brig. Gen. Ashtiani asserted.

He said the Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to confront the enemy on all fronts, adding that its enduring power will mark “many other glorious victories”.

Taking a swipe at the Israeli regime, Brig. Gen. Ashtiani said Tel Aviv is resorting to accusations and rhetoric against Iran “out of desperation”.

He said Israel has always faced defeat from the Iranian nation, and it only has the temerity to show hatred and resentment to the “oppressed and defenseless women and children” in Palestine.

The top defense official reaffirmed Iran’s resolve to keep up progress in the arenas of military development based on its defensive doctrine.

His remarks come days after Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh dismissed allegations by the Israeli regime and some Arab states against Iran’s nuclear program and its regional influence. 

“Outlaw Israeli regime—sitting on illicit nukes & refusing to join NPT—again threatens NPT member Iran; a nation w(ith) world’s most inspected nuclear program,” he wrote on Twitter on Sept. 11. “The West’s darling is a habitual extorter. But world has woken up to its destabilizing nature. Iran reserves right to respond.”

The tweet was in response to Israeli top diplomat’s threat against Iran. During his visit to Moscow earlier this month, Yair Lapid accused Iran of building a nuclear weapon, while warning to stop it.

“The world needs to stop Iran from getting a nuclear capability, no matter the price,” Lapid said, “If the world doesn’t do it, Israel reserves the right to act.”

Israel’s war of words against the Islamic Republic has intensified in recent months, especially after an attack on an Israeli-managed tanker off the coast of Oman last month.

“We are working to rally the world, but at the same time we also know to act alone,” Israeli premier Naftali Bennett said following the attack, pointing his finger at Iran.

Iran said then it would respond promptly and strongly to any threat against its security, while rejecting accusations of complicity in the attack.

The escalation of tensions between Iran and the regime in Tel Aviv comes amidst a stalemate over the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as Iran nuclear deal.

The US government unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 deal in May 2018, despite Iran complying fully with its commitments under the deal.

Many rounds of talks between Tehran and other remaining signatories to the accord were held recently in the Austrian capital Vienna, without any definite breakthrough.

Iran maintains that the Americans must make the first move by lifting sanctions and unconditionally returning to the deal before Tehran’s reversal of measures taken in the last two years.

However, the Biden administration, under the pressure of the Israeli regime, has so far failed to honor its commitment of reversing measures taken by the former US administration.