Iran is reportedly preparing a new strike on Israel, equipped with more powerful warheads and advanced weaponry in response to recent Israeli strikes on Iranian military sites, according to sources briefed on the plans. The attack would represent an escalation from Iran’s previous strikes, targeting Israeli military installations more aggressively and potentially launching from Iraq, said an Iranian official.
The planned response follows a recent Israeli airstrike on October 26, which Israel claims damaged Iran’s missile defenses and other military infrastructure. Iran’s leaders, citing casualties among military personnel, have described the upcoming attack as a necessary response to defend the country’s sovereignty.
While Iran plans for this intensified response, President Masoud Pezeshkian suggested that ceasefire negotiations between Israel and groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza could affect the nature of Iran’s reprisal. A truce, he hinted, could reduce the intensity of Iran’s response. “If [Israel] accepts a ceasefire and halts the violence against oppressed people in the region, this could influence our response,” Pezeshkian stated.
U.S. officials, including Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein, visited Israel recently to discuss the ongoing regional tensions and explore a possible 60-day ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The United States is working to broker a deal, but prospects of an immediate agreement remain uncertain amid ongoing violence.
Despite talks, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reaffirmed on Saturday that a retaliatory strike against the “USA and the Zionist regime” would be forthcoming in response to the damage inflicted. Khamenei, who has final authority over Iran’s military actions, stated that a “tooth-breaking response” would follow any aggression. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has also voiced its commitment to equip itself and its allies to counter any threats.
In a show of support, Iranians participated in state-sponsored rallies across the country, condemning both Israel and the United States and marking the anniversary of the U.S. embassy takeover in 1979. In Tehran, thousands chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” while some burned American and Israeli flags and displayed images of recently deceased Hezbollah and Hamas leaders. The IRGC’s head, Gen. Hossein Salami, echoed Khamenei’s words, affirming Iran’s readiness to support the “resistance front.”
The tense regional dynamics and statements from Iran’s leaders signal that while Iran is open to a truce’s potential impact on its response, it remains resolute in defending its regional interests and allies.