“The smallest mistake on their part”
Iran threatens to destroy Tel Aviv and Haifa
04/18/2023, 11:10 am
On the military holiday in Iran, Iran’s head of state Raisi is showing demonstrative strength. Once again he is threatening the neighboring state of Israel, specifically two cities. Israel recently bombed targets in Syria. Damascus is militarily supported by Tehran.
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi threatened Israel with destruction on a military holiday. The smallest step by Iran’s enemies will result in a harsh response from the armed forces, Raisi said on state television. Addressing Israel, the head of government threatened: “The slightest mistake on your part against the security of our country will be met with the destruction of the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa.”
According to experts, the longstanding conflict between Israel and the Islamic Republic has intensified in recent weeks. Israel’s air force repeatedly bombed targets in the civil war country Syria, which Tehran supports politically and militarily. An Iranian officer who was staying near Damascus as a military adviser was also said to have been killed. Iran has been expanding its influence in the region for years. Israel is concerned about Iran’s controversial nuclear program.
In addition, Israel has repeatedly stated that it will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. “We will do everything necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during his visit to Germany in mid-March. There is no greater danger than Iran’s nuclear program, Netanyahu said. The leadership there called for the destruction of the only Jewish state. “The Jewish people will not allow a second Holocaust.”
The background is the strong enrichment of uranium in Iran and the concern of European diplomats that Israel could, if necessary, take military action against Iran alone. Netanyahu emphasized that one would prefer to act in a coordinated manner with international partners. Chancellor Olaf Scholz had asked Tehran to back down in the dispute over the nuclear program. “Uranium enrichment in Iran is a real threat,” he said.
Iranian presidents have threatened arch-enemy Israel with destruction in the past. Hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was president from 2005 to 2013, was particularly controversial. Raisi came to power in the summer of 2021. The conservative cleric’s style of government has been widely criticized since then. April 18 is a holiday in the Islamic Republic in honor of the national armed forces, on which large military parades are held.