According to the network: “The statements indicate a change in Iran’s initial positions to reduce the severity of the strikes carried out by Israel on October 25, which was the first time that Israel publicly admitted to striking Iranian targets.”
The source, whom CNN described as familiar with Iran’s deliberations, said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran’s response to the Zionist regime’s aggression will be decisive and painful.”
Although the source did not provide an exact date for the attack, he hinted that “it is likely to happen before the day of the US presidential elections (which will take place on November 5th).”
In his initial response to the strikes that took place last weekend, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei chose to provide a more measured response, saying that the strikes “should not be exaggerated or underestimated.”
Last Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said in a comment on the recent Israeli attack on his country that Iran “will use all available tools to respond to Israel in a strict and proportionate manner,” and stressed that “Tehran will not give up its legal right to respond to the Zionist entity.”
At dawn last Saturday, October 26, Israel launched an attack on “military sites” in Iran, in response to the Iranian missile strike on Israel on October 1, which in turn was a response to the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah and Ismail Haniyeh, earlier.
Tehran affirmed that it “reserves the right to legitimately respond to these criminal attacks in a timely manner.”
Source: RT
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**Interview with Iranian Affairs Expert Dr. Layla Khosravi**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Khosravi. With the recent statements from Iranian officials indicating a more vigorous response to Israel’s strikes, what do you believe this change in rhetoric says about Iran’s current strategic posture?
**Dr. Khosravi:** Thank you for having me. The shift in tone from Iran’s leadership shows that they feel a need to project strength after Israel’s recent attacks. By stating that the response will be “decisive and painful,” they intend to deter future aggression while maintaining their credibility both domestically and regionally.
**Interviewer:** Interesting. The speculation about a potential attack before the U.S. presidential elections adds another layer to this situation. How do you think U.S. politics might influence Iran’s decision-making?
**Dr. Khosravi:** Absolutely, the timing before the U.S. elections could be strategic for Iran. They might want to send a strong message while the global community is focused on the U.S. political landscape, potentially adding pressure on American leaders to reconsider their stance on Iran.
**Interviewer:** That leads to a broader question for our readers: Do you believe that Iran’s escalating military threats are justified in response to Israeli actions, or do they risk further destabilizing the region? We invite our audience to share their thoughts and engage in this important debate.
