The IRGC general warned Iran would “definitely” reciprocate any Israeli attack on its nuclear sites.
“If the Zionist regime (Israel) wants to take action against our nuclear centres and facilities, it will definitely and surely face our reaction,” he told Iran’s state news agency.
“For the counter-attack, the nuclear facilities of the (Israeli) regime will be targeted and operated upon with advanced weaponry.”
Iran has “identified” Israeli nuclear centres and holds “necessary information of all targets”, he added.
“Hands are on the trigger to fire powerful missiles for the total destruction of determined targets,” Mr Haghtalab said.
On Thursday, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian Foreign Minister, warned that Tehran would make Israel “regret” any attack on his country.
“In case of any use of force by the Israeli regime and violating our sovereignty, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate a bit to assert its inherent rights, to give a decisive and proper response to it, to make the regime regret its actions,” he told the UN Security Council during a meeting on the Middle East.
A history of tension over nuclear weapons
The Islamic republic has accused Israel of sabotage attacks on its facilities and assassinations of nuclear scientists in recent years.
On Monday, Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Iran had closed its nuclear facilities to inspectors “for security reasons” after the attack.
Israel is widely known to have nuclear weapons but has never admitted so.
Israel’s military chief has vowed a response to the Iranian aerial attack. The Iranian warning came after Mr Netanyahu said Israel reserves “the right to protect itself”.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
