Iran: He warned the US that if they hit Tehran, they would be a legitimate target

Tehran warned Washington through the diplomatic channel of an imminent strike on Israel in response to the Israeli air force’s bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus and said after the strike that it did not want further escalation, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said.

“We have clearly conveyed to the Americans with messages that the decision of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council headed by the president (S.Ebrahim Raisi) to punish the Zionist regime was final and final,” Iran’s IRNA news agency said, citing the top diplomat of the country. “After the punitive action, Operation True Promise, at approximately 2:30 A.M. on April 14 (11:00 p.m. GMT), we sent another message to the United States through the diplomatic channel, saying that we do not seek to escalate tension in the region,” the minister added.

We will not target US positions in the Middle East unless the US strikes Iran

The top Iranian diplomat also said that before the attack on Israel, Tehran told Washington that it would not target US military infrastructure in the Middle East “except in a situation where the United States wants to take military action in support of Israel ».

The foreign minister clarified that Iran exchanged messages through the US interests section at the Swiss embassy in Tehran, as well as “through official diplomatic channels.” According to the diplomat, these contacts were made to “prevent the escalation of tensions and the development of a crisis in the region”.

On the evening of April 13, Iran after a clear warning to the US, which grounded civil aviation flights throughout the region, launched drones and missiles against Israel.

How the Iranian attack unfolded

On the evening of April 13, Iran, after a clear warning to the US, which grounded civil aviation flights across the region, launched drones and missiles at Israel, claiming it was in response to “several crimes”, including of an attack attributed to Israel on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus. Tehran insisted that the attack was aimed exclusively at military targets from which the consulate was hit.

Israel had the assistance of the US, UK and France in intercepting Iranian missiles and drones. The Israel Defense Forces said they intercepted 99 percent of the roughly 350 Iranian missiles fired at the country. Iran said the hypersonic missiles went through the combined air defense.

Israeli authorities said they were preparing to retaliate against the Iranian attack. Tehran has assured that it plans no further action after the latest attack, but is ready to respond to any Israeli action harshly, immediately and “in the deadliest way”.

The Ansar Allah leader in a lengthy speech summarized the Houthi operations and promised more.

Houthi leader announces ‘new operations’ – ‘Iran attack sets rules of engagement’

Referring to Yemeni operations in support of the Gaza Strip, Sayed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi stressed that in the past two weeks, the Yemeni armed forces have carried out 14 operations using 36 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. It also confirmed that eight ships were targeted, bringing the total number of ships targeted to 98.

The Yemeni leader said that the United States and Britain should realize that their attack on Yemen will not stop Yemeni operations in support of Gaza. Sayed Al Houthi assured that there is no danger to the navigation of ships belonging to European countries, which do not sail towards the Israeli occupation entity and did not participate in the attack against Yemen.

The Ansar Allah leader concluded his speech by advising the United States and Britain to withdraw their naval assets, “which are imposing heavy burdens and losses on them,” and called on the Yemeni people to join Friday’s demonstrations in support of the resilient Palestinian people.

He said that Iranian retaliation, supported by allied fronts (including Hezbollah, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and the Houthis), “established the rules of engagement, ensuring that any attack would not go unanswered,” in addition to efforts by some to downplay its importance.