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Iran refuses to respond to Israel's limited strike
Iran, through a third country, told the United States that it would not respond if Israel's response to a large-scale attack was limited to specific targets, in which case Tehran would consider the "round" over, the sources said.
Iran has told the United States through a third country that it will not respond to limited Israeli attacks on specific targets, Israeli broadcaster Khan reported, citing sources.
If Israel's response to Iranian missile attacks is limited to specific targets, Tehran will consider this "round" over, the report said, according to the sources.
Kan noted that the message was conveyed "behind the scenes" and that Iranian officials had publicly warned Israel of a serious response to any possible attack.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Iran launched a massive missile attack on Israel on the evening of October 1, firing more than 200 rockets, most of which were intercepted by air defenses. This was in retaliation for the assassinations of Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan. They were killed in an IDF airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut on September 27.
The IDF has promised a “serious and meaningful” response after the Iranian attack. Israeli retaliatory strikes could target Iran’s oil and nuclear facilities, Axios reports. Tehran has warned that if Israel decides to retaliate, it will “face more destructive and devastating attacks.”
But even before the mass walkout on October 1, Iran’s political leadership was divided over whether to respond to Israel’s actions, the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal reported. Among those hesitant were Iranian President Masoud Fezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who argued that restraint could help win Western concessions on the nuclear deal and the lifting of sanctions.
Following Iran's large-scale attack, Fezeshkian said Israel was trying to spread the crisis in the region, but Tehran wanted to prevent that from happening. He also called on the US and Europe to stop Israel from doing so.