Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that the country has “no red lines” when it comes to defending itself, as reports indicate Israel is honing in on a list of potential targets for retaliation following a missile attack from Iran two weeks ago.
In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi also issued an indirect warning regarding the presence of U.S. forces who may be operating a sophisticated missile defense system in Israel. He noted, “The US has been delivering a record amount of arms to Israel,” adding that this also jeopardizes the lives of American troops deployed to manage missile systems in the country.
Araghchi emphasized Iran’s readiness to respond, stating, “While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests.” His remarks suggest that Tehran is unwilling to absorb an Israeli strike without a subsequent response, particularly after Iran did not retaliate against an alleged Israeli strike in April, shortly after its first direct attack on Israel.
Hebrew media has reported that Israel is closely collaborating with the White House on its response to Iran’s recent missile attack. U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed opposition to any Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities or oil industry, which had been under consideration.
As preparations for retaliation unfold, reports indicate that the White House is contemplating deploying its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems to Israel, a move that would require American soldiers to operate them. Meanwhile, NBC reported that Israeli officials have narrowed down potential targets for retaliation, focusing on military and energy infrastructure rather than nuclear sites or assassinations.
On October 1, Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah. While many of these missiles were intercepted, some evaded defenses, resulting in civilian casualties in both Israel and the West Bank.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned that any retaliatory strike against Iran would be “lethal, precise, and surprising.” The looming threat of all-out war between Israel and Iran is raising tensions throughout the region, with Iran backing various militias that encircle Israel, which has been actively engaged in combat with Iran-backed groups like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The New York Times reported that Hamas had sought support from Iran and Hezbollah prior to its October 7 assault, which resulted in significant casualties and hostage-taking, igniting the current conflict in Gaza. The following day, Hezbollah forces began their attacks on Israel from Lebanon.