Tehran Vows Crushing Response to Any American Attack

EghtesadOnline: Any attack on Iran by the United States would face a “crushing” response, Iran’s government spokesman said on Tuesday, following reports US President Donald Trump asked for options for a strike on Iran’s main nuclear site last week but decided against doing so.

News ID: ۷۵۱۵۳۵

19 November 2020

“Any action against the Iranian nation would certainly face a crushing response,” Ali Rabiei said, in remarks streamed on an official government website.

Citing a US official, Reuters reported on Monday that Trump, with two months left in office, conferred with top advisers about the possibility of attacking the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, but was dissuaded by them from that option.

One of the advisers named in the report, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, is on Wednesday due to visit Israel that has long hinted at possible military action against its arch-enemy Iran.

“If I were the Iranians, I would not feel at ease” after the report, Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said, adding that he was not aware of the Oval Office deliberations last Thursday.

“It is very important that the Iranians know that if, indeed, they suddenly dash toward high levels of enrichment, in the direction of nuclear weaponry, they are liable to encounter the military might of the United States - and also, perhaps, of other countries,” Steinitz told Israel’s Army Radio.

Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful needs, which has been verified by the numerous reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Accusing Israel of waging “psychological warfare” against Iran, Rabiei said, “I personally don’t foresee that it’s probable that they [the United States] would want to cause insecurity in the world and the region.”